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

Single-edged iron blade attached to the hexagonal baluster in high-tin bronze; triple band forming a collar at the transition to the figural butt formed as a pecking raptor with long claws sitting on a stylised tree; annular punched eyes and pellets on the wings and the interior of the tree; mounted on a custom-made stand. 155 grams total, knife: 17 cm, 17.9 cm wide including stand



Ex W.L., USA, early 1990s. with Artemis Gallery, 26 September 2016, USA. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.13528-263112.

Objects created in the West Siberian animal style served as ornamentation, offered protection against evil forces, and brought good fortune, while simultaneously signalling the high status of their owners. The West Siberian animal style represents a vivid artistic chapter in the history of the peoples of Western Siberia. Today, it is recognised—alongside the well-known ‘Scytho-Siberian’ and ‘Permian’ animal styles—as a distinct cultural phenomenon.

A butted short-sleeved chainmail shirt made of thick oval rings assembled in the usual system of one-to-four; in an excellent state of preservation, with over 95% of the rings intact, very few broken or corroded, with no later additions. 9.93 kg, 87 x 56 cm



Acquired on the German art market before 2000. Private collection, South Germany. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.13066-249665.

In the German-manufactured ring mail armours, in the 15th century A.D., the rings protecting the breast were very thick, whereas the sleeved mail armours were thinner. Master armourers from Nuremberg were famous for this production across Europe.

Wrist and the upper hand section from an armoured gauntlet, with flared cuff and ropework detailing to the rim, vertical fluting to the cannon and two attached articulated plates; cannon hinged at one edge and with sliding catch to the other; marked '1.32'. 180 grams, 12 cm



Acquired on the UK art market. From a gentleman's collection in East Sussex, UK.

This armour part was destined to protect the hand and the wrist. The 'mitten gauntlet' consisted of a longer, narrow conical cuff tapering to the wrist and cut at the top to form a point. By the beginning of the 15th century, the 'mitten gauntlet' had become popular and was to remain so for the rest of the century and into the first half of the 16th century, especially in German-dominated areas of Europe.

Comprising: a curved panel with a rolled rim, horizontal carinated bands and median bowed band with diagonal slash detailing, fluted lower edge with holes for articulating rivets; group of three plates with vertical fluting, with sliding rivets providing articulation; with matching '1.306' reference numbers. 424 grams total, 22.3-24.5 cm



Acquired on the UK art market. From a gentleman's collection from East Sussex, UK.

The matched reference numbers could indicate that the pieces came from the same harness. One piece appears to be a piece of a tasset – a thigh defence. The embossed band is imitating the fashionable ‘puffed and slashed’ textile garments seen on 16th-century armour. Sixteenth-century armour often imitated textile fashions in their form and decorative elements. The second piece may be a tasset. The incised lines for the fluting on the exterior surface appear to be of more mechanical manufacture, as do the slot for the sliding rivet and the empty rivet hole on one side.

Formed from a single solid round-section twisted rod with tapering ends. 12.35 grams, 25.18 mm overall, 19.38 mm internal diameter (approximate size British S, USA 9, Europe 20, Japan 19)



Found Eye, Suffolk, on 7th September 2021, declared as Treasure under the Treasure Act with reference no.2021 T716, subsequently disclaimed and returned to the finder. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.SF-6FD899. Accompanied by a copy of the find's receipt from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport. Accompanied by a copy of the report for HM Coroner of Ipswich, Suffolk. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.13481-262549.

Single finds of gold coiled rings are usually assigned Middle Bronze Age dates based on comparable examples found in hoards with other datable artefacts. For example, the Fittleworth Hoard (BM 1996, 0902.18) from West Sussex contains two, admittedly slightly larger, coiled rings together with a range of other Middle Bronze Age gold artefacts.

Penannular in form and round in section with bands to the body. 12.8 grams, 20.17 mm



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

Featuring a circular shaft-hole through the centre, symmetrical narrow cutting edges expanding and curving towards the rear; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 1.87 kg total, axe: 25.5 cm



From a private German collection. Ex John Lawton private collection, Surrey, UK. Accompanied by a copy of a previous illustrated catalogue page, including provenance.

S-shaped with scrolled flourishes to the dragon-head terminals, remains of red enamelling to the stylised heads and body, eight rectangular cells to the body; free-running tongue with head coiled around the neck of one of the heads. 16.55 grams, 59 mm



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

Modelled in the round with raised almond-shaped eyes, raised forehead connected to a long nose, raised mouth turned downwards, large ears and short beard around the jawline; long hair tied to the back secured with a headband. 76 kg, 56 cm



Ex John Moor, York, UK; thence by descent. with Rupert Wace, 2018. Private collection, UK.

Comprising a bronze backing plate with three attachment loops and cellwork to the obverse including inlaid garnet cloisons to the neck and body, with a cabochon at the centre of the chest and domed rivet-heads corresponding to the loops on the reverse. 35.29 grams, 68 mm



Important Medieval works of art from the collection of the late Ernst Boehlen, Adolphe Stoclet (1871-1949), Palais Stoclet, Brussels, acquired in 1931; thence by descent. Sotheby's London, 3 July 2018, no.1. Acquired by Dr Ernst Boehlen, Bern. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.13475-262837.

The style of the piece is Visigothic; possibly a saddle applique, similar to the examples found at Apahida in Romania from the 5th century.

Formed as a stylised humanoid face with eyebrows formed as a pair of volutes, circular eyes, flat nose, full cheeks; with an inserted garnet at the top. 4.44 grams, 27.4 mm



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

Formed as a tapering stylised animal head pointing down with a short, blunt snout with wide nostrils and bulging eyes, a shallow concave depression behind the eyes with two further smaller depressions on the neck; the reverse with an evenly stamped hexagonal decoration. 1.97 grams, 26 mm



Found whilst searching with a metal detector in Wymondham, Norfolk, 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-947019.