Loading, please wait...
LOT 0815
Greek Bronze Ring with Crouching Lion
HELLENISTIC, CIRCA 2ND-1ST CENTURY B.C.
1 in. (4.35 grams, 23.67 mm overall, 18.00 x 12.78 mm internal diameter (approximate size British G 1/2, USA 3 1/2, Europe 5.55, Japan 5)).
D-section hoop expanding towards the shoulders, an oval bezel with a crouching lion on a baseline. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceLondon gentleman's collection, 1970-1990s, by descent.
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 0815
Greek Bronze Ring with Crouching Lion
Estimate £50 - 70€58 - 81 (for guidance only)$68 - 95 (for guidance only)
-
.jpg)
Graeco-Persian Gold Ram-Shaped Amulet
3rd-2nd century B.C.Estimate: £12,000 - 17,000 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £6,000
Modelled in the round in the form of a ram lying with its legs folded beneath the body, head turned with hooked horns, collar to the neck with a large pellet pendant; ribbed suspension loop behind the shoulders, mounting lug beneath the trunk. 12.87 grams, 30 mm
Private collection, acquired on the European art market in 2002. Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate, 8 June 2004. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13204-249215.
The ram, a male symbol, was associated with various divinities. Turned into a ram as a child by Zeus, and a common sacrifice to the god, the ram was a symbol of Dionysus, which he shared with Aphrodite. Ram heads and pendants frequently occur in jewellery. In the animal kingdom, Eros favours the cockerel and the ram, both of which are indicative of sexual potency. -
Phoenician Terracotta Bulla with a Dolphin
5th century B.C.Estimate: £100 - 140 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £50
Plano-convex in profile with impressed dolphin and legend. 1.05 grams, 17.71 mm
Acquired in 1994. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s.
This Phoenician terracotta bulla, decorated with a dolphin, reflects the strong maritime identity of the Phoenician world. Bullae were typically used to seal documents or goods, serving both a practical and symbolic function in trade and administration. The dolphin, a creature closely associated with the sea, would have held particular meaning for the Phoenicians, whose culture and prosperity were deeply tied to seafaring and commerce across the Mediterranean. Often seen as a symbol of protection, guidance, and safe passage, the dolphin adds an additional layer of meaning to the object, suggesting not only its use in everyday transactions but also a connection to the wider beliefs and environment of the ancient coastal world. -
Graeco-Roman Carnelian Gemstone with Seated Sculptor and Herm
1st century B.C.-1st century A.D.Estimate: £300 - 400 (+bp*)
Bids: 2 | Current Bid: £10
Discoid in plan with intaglio scene of a seated sculptor in profile working on a herm; chipped; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 1.16 grams, 15 mm
From the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s.
