Loading, please wait...
Details
LOT 1623
Iron Age Celtic Bronze Proto-Ring Money Collection
CIRCA 3RD-1ST CENTURY B.C.
7/8 - 1 1/4 in. (25.9 grams total, 22-31 mm).
A 'proto-money' or harness ring group comprising round-section rings, some with butt-joints, radiating lobes and other features. [5, No Reserve]
Provenance
From an English collection formed before 2000.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Literature
Cf. Castelin, K., Keltische Munzen, Zurich, 1978, band 1, figs.981-986, for similar examples.
Footnotes
From the 3rd to 2nd Century B.C. and even before, Celtic rings in bronze were often used as a medium of exchange, before the actual issue of coinage in the area. The first attestation of rings as proto-money came from the Celtic Moesia, before the Roman conquest.
CONDITIONVETTING:
TimeLine 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.
RELATED LOTS
-
Iron Age Celtic Stone Head
Circa 2nd century B.C.-2nd century A.D. or laterSold for (Inc. bp): £1,040
An iconic Pagan sculpture with rounded forehead and chin, broad nose and recessed eyes; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 17.2 k total, 30.5 cm including stand
From Staffordshire, UK. From a collection acquired on the UK art market. Property of a West Midlands, UK, private collector. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
.jpg)
Iberian Bronze Bull Statuette
3rd-1st century B.C.Estimate: £2,000 - 3,000 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £900
Modelled as a bridled and saddled bull, naturalistically rendered with well-defined facial planes, lending a vivid and expressive character to the figure; the edge of the saddle adorned with a delicate row of incised circles, broad hollowed out hooves. 48.6 grams, 54 mm long
Frank Sternberg collection, Zurich, 1980s. Private collection, acquired from Frank Sternberg in 1992. Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss register certificate, dated 29 March 2004. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12729-234223. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
The statuette likely served as a votive offering (ex-voto) at a sanctuary or temple, and closely parallels numerous Iberian examples recovered from sacred sites in Alicante, Valencia, and particularly in Andalusia. In Iberian culture, the bull was a potent symbol of strength, virility, and martial power—frequently associated with warrior deities. The inclusion of a saddle and bridle suggests domestication, and it is plausible that such animals, being more docile than horses, may have been ridden or equipped in ritual or ceremonial contexts. -
Iron Age Celtic Bronze Moustache Type Dagger Pommel
2nd century B.C.-1st century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £39
Comprising a swollen body tapering towards the pointed terminals; the centre of the body with a circumferential recess; decorated with alternating ridges and grooves. 19.8 grams, 39 mm
Property of a Cambridgeshire, UK, collector. From his private collection since the 1970s; thence by descent circa 2000. Ex private collection of a Bedfordshire gentleman. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
This type of pommel is called a 'moustache pommel', so named because of its shape, a sort of comedic, droopy moustache.
