Ancient Art, Antiquities, Books, Natural History & Coins

Miniature drum-shaped vessel covered in filigree meander pattern with bobbles and strap handle. 1.60 grams, 12 mm



Private collection formed in Europe in the 1980s. Westminster collection, central London, UK.

Pendants in the form of miniature buckets have been found in a number of pagan Anglo-Saxon and Viking contexts and are generally made of bronze or iron, with gold examples being rare; three gold examples were found with the hoard from Hoen, Norway. Bronze bucket amulets have been found at Driffield in Yorkshire, and Vimose bog in Denmark, among other places. In form they represent wooden buckets bound with bronze or iron bands which have been found in Anglo-Saxon and Viking graves and are believed to have held mead or ale and were used to replenish the cups from which warriors drank. As amulets they probably represent the ecstatic power of alcoholic drink and the role of women as the dispensers of these precious beverages.

Penannular torc formed of two round-section rods with a looped terminal. 54 grams, 14 cm



Acquired on the UK art market. Private collection, Suffolk.

Matched pair of penannular arm bands with hatched decoration on the upper face. 154 grams total, 11.3-11.8 cm



From a 1980s collection. Ex North West London gallery. Private collection, Suffolk.

Equal-arm type with raised borders to the arms, trilobe finial, central domed roundel and pierced lug. 18.5 grams, 52 mm



From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s.

Openwork pendant with integral loop, pelleted rim, profile beast with head turned to the rear, parcel gilt detailing. 5.62 grams, 33 mm



Private collection formed in Europe in the 1980s. Westminster collection, central London, UK.

Discoid type with suspension loops, pellets to the border enclosing a bird-head in profile; Baltic type. 3.53 grams, 24 mm



Private collection formed in Europe in the 1980s. Westminster collection, central London, UK.

Matched pair of bridle fittings formed as two opposing fantastical creatures with their heads turned back and front legs resting on a globe forming a passage for a strap, the bodies decorated with bands of herringbone decoration. 79.2 grams total, 79 mm each



From a European collection, 1990s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13379-257911.

On these types of horse-bits, two heads or a head/tail normally face each other. But an unusual piece from Edsvära in Västergötland, Sweden, depicts two heads turned outwards, like in the current example. The mount from Edsvära, with its attached iron bit, was found in 1906 next to a horse's skeleton.

Hollow-formed type with barrel-shaped suspension bar, narrow neck, trefoil plaque with two lateral piercings; applied filigree knotwork to the plaque and suspension bar, domed 'eyes' and nose at the junction with the plaque; plain reverse. 23.1 grams, 71 mm



Private collection formed in Europe in the 1980s. Westminster collection, central London, UK. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.13299-256161.

Although the ornament is decorated with a traditional double-braid band, it no longer features animal ornamentation, but intertwined rings made of multi-row filigree wire. The shape of the Tau cross also finds parallels with the patrices of the Busdorf hoard (Schleswig-Holstein).

Discoid type with hollow boss to centre, ropework border enclosing scrolled filigree and granulation ornament. 4.05 grams, 35 mm



Private collection formed in Europe in the 1980s. Westminster collection, central London, UK.

Comprising a beaded wire hoop with a returned fastening, a pendant with a bell-shaped cap and a filigree cage enclosing a square-section amethyst bead grooved to accept the filigree wires. 10.29 grams, 63 mm



Private collection formed in Europe in the 1980s. Westminster collection, central London, UK.

Comprising a tubular sleeve with raised collar above and below, the body with chevrons and hatched panels, ring loop above, set with a canine tooth secured with a rivet. 16.2 grams, 85 mm



From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s.