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

Leaf-shaped with rounded butt; inked findspot 'Spearpoint / Carter Cay / Ky'. 40.7 grams, 92 mm



Found Carter Cay, Bahamas. From the collection of Haselmere Parish Priest, Charles Borelli (c.1914-2000) of Farnham, who was part of the Borelli family from Italy, who emigrated from Lake Como in 1828 to set up the Borelli family watch and jewellery business; thence by family descent to his nephew.

Intricately woven using small beads in black, red, white, green and blue. 244 grams total, collar: 76 cm long



Collected in October 2003 from the Silutshana area, 10 km east of Islandlwana. Ian Wilkinson collection, Nottinghamshire, UK, formed since 1985.

Comprising a long string of ribbed tubular beads with some larger oblate beads; a string of red oblate beads. 31.9 grams total, 56-122 cm



From a specialised collection of trade items and money formed in the 1970s.

Comprising: a large carved ladle with openwork lion above the handle, incised lizard and other ornament; ceremonial axe with chip-carved ornament, inset iron blade; mace with knop finial and chip-carved panels to the shank. 1.35 kg total, 49.5-90.5 cm



Acquired on the UK art market. Property of a Suffolk, UK, gentleman.

Modelled as two bulbous body parts connected by a tubular neck, with four short curved legs; layered stripes of leather and fabric around a metal skeleton. 268 grams, 18.1 cm



From the collection of Mr Carlos Bahamonde, Manchester, UK.

Modelled in the round as a standing female figure with a rounded bald head, incised eye and mouth, wearing a waistband above hips and straps(?) to the torso, emphasised carved vulva detail; with a hand-written tag reading 'Ivory doll, ca. 1000 AD, Exc. Wales, Alaska'. 19.4 grams, 79 mm



Ex Wales, Alaska. Ex John and Valerie Arieta, 1993. Dr Alan Black collection. From the collection of Mr Carlos Bahamonde, Manchester, UK.

With barrel-shaped handle and ribbed collar, four curved prongs; old label 'Regrets. "I shouldn't have eaten that missionary steak", said the cannibal king with a frown. "For oft have I heard the old proverb - you can't keep a good man down". 76 grams, 24.3 cm



Acquired on the UK art market. Property of a Suffolk, UK, gentleman.

Triangular transparent tip with knapped, serrated edges. 7.57 grams, 43 mm



From the private collection of Peter Clayton, FCILIP, Dip, Arch, FSA, FRNS, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK; formed since the late 1950s. Accompanied by an old paper sleeve handwritten by Peter Clayton.

Paddle-shaped club with carved scroll decoration at the top of the blade. 783 grams, 74.2 cm



From the private collection of Frank Hurley (1885-1962), Australian photographer, filmmaker and adventurer. From the collection of Mr Carlos Bahamonde, Manchester, UK.

The Trobriand Islands are coral atolls off the east coast of New Guinea. The Massim clubs were both for ceremonial use and fighting, and were decorated with scrolls and abstract snake designs. Some of them were connected to sorcery: when a shaman pointed such a club towards someone, it was a death sentence. Frank Hurley worked on Shackleton's Antarctic expedition of 1914-1917, photographing the Endurance whilst being marooned with the rest of the crew. In the 1920s, he mounted various expeditions to Papua New Guinea, which involved filmmaking and collecting on behalf of the Australian Museum and himself. He stored a number of artefacts in a log cabin at Whale Beach, which became an exotic setting for Sydney's glitterati attending raucous parties there in the 1930s. Selling the property after the war, he left the contents of the cabin, which were kept by the new owners, who moved to London in 1959.

Comprising: carved figure with horned headdress, rectangular transverse slot and socket to reverse; separate carved handle with scooped end and socket to one face, slot to edge with metal reinforcement, smooth tapering handle. 1.29 kg total, 47.5-54.5 cm



From the collection of Mr Carlos Bahamonde, Manchester, UK.

Round-section staff decorated with polychrome human and bird figures. 166 grams, 46.5 cm



June Bedford collection of Northwest Coast Art, Phillips sale, London, 20th September, 2000. Ex Romy Rey collection, London, UK. From the collection of Mr Carlos Bahamonde, Manchester, UK.

V-shaped fossilized walrus jaw bone with engraved high-relief smiling face with a wide nose and closed eyes, radiating lines around the head, two rows of drilled dots to the top, signature 'AV' to the reverse. 845 grams, 18.5 cm



From the collection of Mr Carlos Bahamonde, Manchester, UK.