Loading, please wait...
LOT 1680
Farnham Stone Age Flint Axehead Group
NEOLITHIC PERIOD, CIRCA 6,000 B.P.
2 5/8 - 3 1/2 in. (295 gram total, 68-89 mm).
Comprising: a small axe with a narrow butt, inked and pencilled notations on one side; a large fragment of an axe; an unfinished axe with several inked notations. [3, No Reserve]
ProvenanceFound during the original official excavations in the Farnham area, Surrey, UK, which were conducted by Harold Faulker (1875-1963), and William Francis Rankine (c.1877-1962), who were instrumental with the excavation works and pit dwellings at sites including Six Bells, Frensham, Tilford, Thursley and Bagshot, and Waverley, amongst others at and near Farnham in the 1930s and 1940s.
Much of the material is now in the prestigious Farnham museum.
The present part of the collection having been gifted to their good friend and 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.
Farnham district is one of the most interesting prehistoric regions in England, and has been visited by a succession of prehistoric peoples from Palaeolithic times onwards. Along the southern slope of the Farnham valley are three gravel terraces, which are famous prehistorically and have yielded large quantities of flint implements and bones of prehistoric animals, notably the mammoth. In prehistoric times, the chalk deposits played an important role in attracting settlers, as they contained rich layers of flint nodules used to make implements. The Farnham Gravels have been an abundant source of Palaeolithic finds, most prominent being hand axes. The axes differ in type, and each type is associated with a cultural phase of the Palaeolithic period. Types similar to these are found in similar deposits in the Somme valley and in many English valley gravels. Flint mining was also carried out by the Neolithic folk. Polished axes and leaf forms, arrowheads and knives, or possibly lance heads, are characteristic of the Neolithic flint work.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.
LOT 1680
Farnham Stone Age Flint Axehead Group
Estimate £80 - 100€93 - 116 (for guidance only)$108 - 135 (for guidance only)
Opening Bid
£5 (EUR 6; USD 7) +BP*
-
Neolithic Wood Shaving Blade with Antler Handle
3rd-2nd millennium B.P.Estimate: £250 - 350 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £133
Finely knapped and polished tongue-shaped blade embedded in a more recent antler handle with chisel finial. 134 grams, 23.1 cm
Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s. -
Norfolk Stone Age Polished Cherty Sandstone Tool
Neolithic Period, circa 6,000 B.P.Estimate: £100 - 140 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £5
Hammerstone with rounded ends; old typed label 'ENQ:III5, Cherty sand-stone. 1950', 'Trottsford 19/3/50' and others mainly effaced. 310 grams, 11.4 cm
Found Trottsford, Norfolk, UK, on 19th March 1950. 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.
Farnham district is one of the most interesting prehistoric regions in England, and has been visited by a succession of prehistoric peoples from Palaeolithic times onwards. Along the southern slope of the Farnham valley are three gravel terraces, which are famous prehistorically and have yielded large quantities of flint implements and bones of prehistoric animals, notably the mammoth. In prehistoric times, the chalk deposits played an important role in attracting settlers, as they contained rich layers of flint nodules used to make implements. The Farnham Gravels have been an abundant source of Palaeolithic finds, most prominent being hand axes. The axes differ in type, and each type is associated with a cultural phase of the Palaeolithic period. Types similar to these are found in similar deposits in the Somme valley and in many English valley gravels. Neolithic people are known to have engaged in flint mining. Polished axes and leaf forms, arrowheads and knives, or possibly lance heads, are characteristic of Neolithic flint work. -
Huge Stone Age Acheulean Ovate Flint Handaxe
Lower Palaeolithic Period, circa 600,000-350,000 B.P.Estimate: £400 - 600 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £200
Extremely large example of a chopping tool, likely made by Homo heidelbergensis; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 1.54 kg, 21.1 cm
From the well-regarded, long-closed quarry site of St Meme, Charente, France. From an old, large French collection. Acquired on the European art market. From a UK private collection.
Smaller handaxes continued as components of Middle Palaeolithic industries (Acheulian and Mousterian) associated with the Neanderthal and Homo sapiens. These rather crude handaxes probably reflect the coarser nature of the stone.
