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LOT 1561
Iron Age Celtic Sandstone Head
CIRCA 2ND CENTURY B.C.-1ST CENTURY A.D. OR LATER
8 1/4 in. (2.47 kg total, 21 cm including stand).
Sturdy carved stone head with almond-shaped face, incised disc eyes and slotted mouth, rectangular brow; mounted on a custom-made display stand. [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. Jackson, S., Celtic and Other Stone Heads, Shipley, 1973, item 56, for type.
FootnotesThe cult of the human head was prevalent in the Celtic world, being associated with warding-off evil spirits and bearing of good luck.
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 Sandstone Head
Circa 2nd century B.C.-1st century A.D. or laterSold for (Inc. bp): £572
Sturdy carved stone head with almond-shaped face, incised disc eyes and slotted mouth, rectangular brow; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 2.47 kg total, 21 cm including stand
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.
The cult of the human head was prevalent in the Celtic world, being associated with warding-off evil spirits and bearing of good luck. -
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Iron Age Celtic 'Dorset' Stone Head
Circa 2nd century B.C.-1st century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £910
Carved stone male head with almond-shaped eyes, snub nose, prominent moustache; surface abraded due to prolonged immersion in a river; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 262 grams total, 10.7 cm including stand
Found Dorset, UK. 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. -
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'The Kilburn' Iron Age Celtic Bovine Bowl Mount
Circa 100 B.C.-300 A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,820
A substantial head with a convex front and concave back with a loop above, pierced eye sockets to accept glass inserts with one in situ; large projecting horns curving forwards in front of the ears; remains of two ferrous rivets to the reverse. 80.8 grams, 68 mm
Found whilst searching with a metal detector near North Yorkshire, UK, in 3 August 2020, by Mark Didlick. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.YORYM-76CAE2.
