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

Large oval cameo with profile bust of the Greek hero Ajax, shown bearded and with his helmet pushed up exposing his face. 27.3 grams, 48 mm



UK private collection, acquired on the French art market in the 2000s.

Ajax is recorded in The Iliad as ‘the best man among the Thracians, being both brave and of great stature’. He was one of the strongest warriors for the Achaeans, second only to his cousin Achilles. His epic duel with Hector is detailed in the seventh book of the famed poem by Homer.

Matched pair, each with a long spatulate tail, folded wings and hunched neck; ferrous remains at the attachment point. 108 grams total, 64 mm each



Found Cambridgeshire, UK.

Translucent purple-red carving of a six-petalled flower, slightly concave underside, pierced lug above. 4.43 grams, 29 mm



Acquired on the European art market.

Composed of tubular, oblate and biconical beads with a teardrop-shaped pendant, restrung. 9.28 grams, 34 cm



Acquired in the 1990s-early 2000s. Ex London, UK, collection.

Oval cameo with a profile bust of a mature warrior with a long beard, wearing a draped tunic and a helmet with a face mask. 2.4 grams, 24 mm



Acquired on the European art market.

Modelled in the round in delicately balanced pose resting on the hands; loincloth with waistband. 71.1 grams, 92 mm



Previously belonging to J Stewart, Mayfair, London, UK; acquired in the early 1980s. Property of a Middlesex gentleman.

Mixed group of keys with looped handles. 225 grams total, 6.5-12.9 cm



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

The body decorated by annulets on the sides and top, the maker's initials 'MC' above an empty heart-shaped cartouche flanked by supporters in the form of birds regardant; on the interior immediately above the base, two very indistinct stamps, the lower one possibly a lion. 3.14 grams, 16 mm



Found in North Walsham, Norfolk, UK, on Saturday 13th August 2011, declared as Treasure under the Treasure Act with reference no.2011 T596, and disclaimed by the Crown and returned to the finder. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.NMS-190428. Accompanied by a copy of the Treasure Report for HM Coroner with reference no.2011 T596. Accompanied by a copy of a letter from the British Museum explaining that the Crown's interest in the thimble has been disclaimed.

Inscribed to the inner face in an italic hand 'Love and [l]ive happily'. 2.17 grams, 19.85 mm overall, 17.49 mm internal diameter (approximate size British N 1/2, USA 6 3/4, Europe 14.35, Japan 13)



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

Comprising: two whistles, a padlock, a finial, and a ring with a double cross motif. 64.3 grams total, 24-38 mm



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

Hand-thrown pot with bulbous body and a trumpet-shaped foot; a wide slit to the upper part of the body. 297 grams, 12.5 cm



Acquired on the UK art market. Property of a Kent, UK, lady collector.

Comprising: a grey cameo with a low-relief profile bust of a bearded man with a wreath on his head; an orange mottled stone cameo with a youthful male bust in three-quarter view, resembling the portraits of Alexander the Great. 5.68 grams total, 21-24 mm



Acquired on the European art market.