Ancient Art, Antiquities, Books, Natural History, Stamps & Coins

An amphora-shaped body with concentric triangles to the obverse, vertical hatching to the reverse, with two loop handles. 50.3 grams, 47.4 mm



Acquired on the UK art market in the 1980s. From an East Anglian private collection.

Comprising: one with articulated swivel and rings to the lateral arms, incised heater shield with arms of a pile and three bezants; one with square swivel and row of attachment loops to the underside of the arms. 92.56 grams total, 50-62 mm



Found Romney Marsh area, Kent, 1990-2015. Property of a Kent gentleman, a specialist medieval collector.

An extremely fine seal matrix with a hexagonally facetted handle with a hexagonal and a sub-circular lug, probably to accommodate a chain or cord to allow the seal to be carried about the neck or secured about the person; the base of the matrix handle widening to accommodate the circular die engraved with a bricked castle next to which is half a fleur-de-lis, beneath the image of a fish; the central device surrounded by a circular beaded border separating it from an inscription reading '+S'STEPhE DE POISSIACO. CL'I' for 'Seal of Stephen of Poissy, cleric'; accompanied by a museum-quality impression. 8.83 grams, 19 mm



Found whilst searching with a metal detector in Folkestone and Hythe, Kent, UK. Property of a Kent gentleman, a specialist medieval collector. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.KENT-9E270E.

The central device's motif supports the attribution of this matrix to someone hailing from the modern French town of Possy in the Île-de-France region of France, as the fish and fleur-de-lis are still used as the arms of the town to this day. Additionally, other medieval seals featuring a castle dimidiated with the fleur-de-lys are known with connections to the town, for example, those published by Douët (1865) No. 5050. The owner of this seal shares his name with the famed Stephen or Etienne de Poissy, who'd eventually become Archbishop of Paris and cardinal priest of Sant'Eusebio in Rome. The famed Stephen is particularly well known in English history as he oversaw the signing of the Treaty of Brittany in 1360. It is unlikely that this is the seal of that particular Stephen of Poissy, however, as those with high ecclesiastical postings tended to have large, ornate precious metal seal matrices. This matrix is also of a form probably placing it a generation earlier.

Biconvex in section and discoid in plan with corrugated whorl pattern; upper face with central disc, lower face open to accept the tang. 19.1 grams, 27 mm



From a UK collection formed in the 1980s. Property of an Essex, UK, gentleman.

Formed as a single square-section wire twisted with rounded terminals, with one twisted and looped end, one hooked; stamped to one face. 59.18 grams, 78 mm



From the collection of a gentleman born in the late 19th century, formed 1940s-1970s. From an old Staffordshire family collection; thence by descent.

Each plano-convex with worked design to the domed surface. 3.73 grams total, 11-12 mm



From the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s.

With D-section shank, openwork volute shoulders and insert irregular gemstone. 1.76 grams, 23.10 mm overall, 19.54 mm internal diameter (approximate size British R, USA 8 1/2, Europe 18 3/4, Japan 18)



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.

Large group of glass items, including bottle necks, a dish, a complete glass bottle by Clauton Bros, London, and other items. 1.1 kg total, 2.2-18.5 cm



From the private collection of Peter Clayton, FCILIP, Dip, Arch, FSA, FRNS, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK; formed since the late 1950s.

Composed of small annular turquoise, green and other beads. 4.69 grams, 39 cm



Ex London, UK, collection, 1990s.

Composed of alternating barley-twist and polygonal beads with ring-and-dot motifs, restrung. 44.8 grams, 46.5 cm



Ex West London, UK, collection, 1990s.

Including a signet ring with an inset glass jewel to each shoulder and profile bust of Sol, and other types. 42 grams total, 22-33 mm



Acquired on the UK art market since the 1990s. From the property of a late Lincolnshire, UK, gentleman; thence by descent.

The hoop with low-relief geometric decoration, a tall bezel with crescentic motifs and set with a green glass intaglio with a stylised horse motif. 14.10 grams, 28.97 mm overall, 19.18 x 16.17 mm internal diameter (approximate size British N 1/2, USA 6 3/4, Europe 14.35, Japan 13)



Ex West London, UK, collection, 1990s.