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

Composed of oblate and tubular beads, restrung with an elasticated string. 7.76 grams, 17.6 cm



Ex Ancient Art Shop, Windsor, UK, 1990s. Ex private collection.

Comprising two cuboid dice with ring-and-dot markings disposed 1:6, 2:5, 3:4. 3.19 grams total, 9 mm each



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

Globular in profile with rolled rim and flared foot, short spout to the shoulder and three radiating pierced lugs. 390 grams, 15.5 cm



Ex old English collection. From the estate of a late Bristol, South West England, collector.

A mixed group of ceramic bullae, tesserae or theatre tokens bearing low-relief motifs, mainly consisting of profile busts of deities. 30 grams total, 13-22 mm



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

The term 'tessera' was used in Roman times to convey the Greek term σύμβολον (token). Small tiles are known as tokens, often shaped like coins, made of metal (copper, lead, iron), clay, bone, wood, or glass, stamped as well as engraved. The tokens, however, are not exclusively coin-shaped, as the Latin term 'tessera' suggests by etymologically referring to a square or at least a four-sided shape and confirmed in several cases by material remains of the past. Tokens and tesserae seem to have been used both in Athens and Rome for the distribution of goods. According to written sources, the term token is identified with credentials of the official authorities. They have also been interpreted as tokens of identity, as entrance tickets to theatre performances, tribunals or assemblies of citizens, archival material of seal engraving, as pawns in games, Charon’s obols and even as amulets.

Comprising raised triangular plate with yellow enamel, a stylised zoomorphic head finial to the top, round-section pin and catchplate to the reverse. 3.51 grams, 35 mm



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

Piriform in profile with broad everted rim, band of rouletting to the shoulder and old collector's inked notation 'Béthune Pas-de-Calais'. 1.79 kg, 24 cm high



Found Béthune in Pas-de-Calais, Northern France. Ex Wiltshire, UK, private collection, 1980s.

Ellipsoid type with intaglio scene of a horse in full gallop with reins trailing; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 0.17 grams, 11 mm



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

Plano-convex in section with incuse image of Minerva standing with one hand extended, holding her spear and shield. 1.18 grams, 17 mm



Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016.

In Rome, the Athena Promachos type occurs on imperial silver medallions of Domitian (struck in 92 AD), since Minerva was his personal protector. On gems, it became very common from the end of the 1st century BC onwards, even on the magical gemstones.

Discoid clay mould with an impressed design of a coin on each face 4.04 grams, 26 mm



London gentleman's collection, 1970-1990s, by descent.

Broad and squat with deeply indented discus bearing a low-relief scene of two gladiators wearing padded, hooped armour, one with a small square shield and falx, the other with a domed shield and a longer bladed weapon, each with a wide-brimmed Thracian-type helmet; loop handle partly absent; old collector's card: 'Roman lamp, buff with orange slip, late 1st or early 2nd century A.D. Heart shaped nozzle, handle missing. on the 'discus' two gladiators fighting. They are both of the 'Thrax' class i.e. Thracians. the one on the left holds an oblong buckle and a short curved dagger ('sica') that on the right holds a small round shield ('clipeus') and sword. Both wear helmets ('galea'), armour, and greaves ('ocrea'). Portobello Rd, 31 May 1958.' 113 grams, 12.4 cm



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 handwritten identification card written by Peter Clayton.

Comprising: an unguentarium with a piriform body and a long tubular neck with a flared rim; a small bulbous vessel with everted rim; a squat, round oil lamp. 181 grams total, 50-96 mm



Acquired on the UK art market since the 1990s. From the property of a late Lincolnshire, UK, gentleman; thence by descent. The flask accompanied by a previous catalogue information slip.

One D-shaped in section, slightly delaminated surface; the other with facetted plan. 15 grams total, 54 - 67 mm



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