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LOT 1558
Iron Age Celtic Bronze Phallic Head Terminal
CIRCA 1ST CENTURY B.C.-1ST CENTURY A.D.
1 1/8 in. (30 grams, 30 mm).
Tubular shank with gussets above the rim, D-shaped face with swept-back hair, inset glass eyes; cracked. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000.
From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.
Cf. Durham, E., Metal Figurines in Roman Britain, vol. 2, Reading, 2010, plate 211 for similar form of head on a full-length figure.
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:
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Iron Age Celtic Coiled Gold Ring
Circa 1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,680
Formed as a one continuous bar forming the hoop and spiral bezel. 6.60 grams, 25.43 mm overall, 19.02 mm internal diameter (approximate size British Q, USA 8, Europe 17.49, Japan 16)
Acquired in the 2000s. From the private collection of John Lawton, Surrey, UK. Accompanied by a copy of a previous cataloguing information page. -
Romano-British Enamelled Bronze Mirror Handle
1st-2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,080
Flat in section with crescentic upper end and scrolled lower end, the surface formed with symmetrically placed low-relief palmettes, vine tendrils with grapes and foliage, reserved against the field enamelled in green, dark blue and red. 94 grams, 13 cm
Very good condition.
Acquired in the early 1980s. with Edward Smith, USA. From the collection of a Connecticut, USA, collector. with TimeLine Auctions, 23 May 2017, no.251. Private American collection, New York, USA. 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 number no.11994-210999.
This could be an example of a Romano-British bronze and enamel handle from a mirror or patera, similar to some other existing examples in museums. The shape of the handle is similar to one of the famous pateras from Pompeii. Our specimen is decorated with 'Celtic-style' motifs consisting of a curvilinear scrollwork design of turquoise and blue enamel. A bowl with almost identical enamel work was found in Staffordshire, known as 'The Staffordshire Pan' (WMID-3FE965), while a complete patera was excavated in Amiens (known as the Amiens Patera). -
Iron Age Celtic Bronze Bowl Mount
Circa 1st century B.C.-1st century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £260
Piriform mask with centre-parted hair almond-shaped eyes, keystone-shaped nose and slit mouth; hollow to the reverse, three radiating pierced attachment lugs and loop above with hair texture. 45.2 grams, 58 mm
From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.
