Iron Age Celtic Sandstone Hammer Stone

Two-hoops type with lateral attachment bars, pointillé detailing. 12.2 grams, 29 mm



Acquired on the European art market since the early 2000s. From the private Northern Ireland collection of R.M.

Carved in the round granite figure comprising: a bulbous head with panel of hair to the rear; broad brow, incised scaphoid eyes, triangular nose and open mouth; barrel-shaped body with stubby bent arms and hands placed open on the chest and abdomen; vertical line to chest; lower body absent. 29.6 kg, 47 cm



Previously in the private collection of Mr Louis-Pierre Bresset (1902-1988), Castle Rochelambert, Haute-Loire. Thence by descent. Olivier Coutau-Bégarie, Paris, 23 February 2023, no.33 [€14,812.00]. Accompanied by French cultural passport no.242849. Accompanied by copies of a previous illustrated catalogue page and illustrated note on the provenance. Accompanied by a copy of a signed Art Loss Register declaration no.S00230440, dated 17th March 2023. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12433-225437.

Large cobble also used as a whetstone; old collector's legend 'IA-7'. 977 grams, 17 cm



Acquired from S. Murray. From the private collection of Kenneth Machin (1936-2020), Buckinghamshire, UK; with collection no.IA7; his collection of antiquities and natural history was formed since 1948; thence by descent.