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Click here to subscribe1st-3rd century AD. A bronze disc mirror with one polished face, reverse with a broad rim, raised border and high-relief scene of two lovers on a draped couch. 813 grams, 22cm (8 3/4"). Property of a Suffolk collector; formerly acquired on the European art market in the 1990s. Fine condition.
3rd-4th century AD. A substantial bronze prick spur with lozenge-shaped convex bar, incised line decoration to the central ridge, six applied silver pellets in two rows to the centre, raised collar with applied facetted iron point, twelve applied silver pellets to the point. 158 grams, 90mm (3 1/2"). From the family collection of a South East London collector; formerly acquired in the late 1950s. Very fine condition.
19th century AD. A gilt-bronze figure of Buddha sitting cross-legged on a lotus flower dais, flower resting on the left arms and right arm bent with hand in the gesture of reassurance. 5.3 kg, 37cm (14 1/2"). Property of a North London gentleman; previously in a private collection formed in the 1990s. Fine condition.
1st millennium BC. A bronze footed bowl with broad body, hollow-formed foot with lotus detailing, flange rim with ovolo ornament and punched annulets to the edge; central repoussé roundel with two lovers embracing, both wearing loosely draped garments, the male beneath with legs flanking the female above him; mounted on a custom-made stand. 3 kg total, 34cm including stand (13 1/4"). From an old Tokyo collection; previously the property of a Japanese gentleman since the late 2000s. [No Reserve] Fine condition. Rare.
1st century AD. A bronze oil lamp with hexagonal nozzle, bulbous body with disc foot, hinged lid with knop handle, to the rear an integral handle formed as a horse's head and neck with bridle detailing; suspension chain. [A video of this item is available to view on TimeLine Auctions website.] Cf. Bailey, D.M. A Catalogue of the Lamps in the British Museum. IV. Lamps of Metal and Stone and Lampstands, London, 1988, item Q3692. 503 grams, 16cm (6 1/4"). From a private collection; formed 1965-1975. Very fine condition.
8th-10th century AD. A bronze cross with fixing spike, obverse decorated with central raised cross, panels of ring-and-saltire ornament, 'N???' to the lateral arms and 'AB' to the vertical. 244 grams, 23.3cm (9 1/4"). From a private Belgian collection; previously part of a private collection formed in Germany in the 1990s. Fine condition.
1st-2nd century AD or later. A hollow-cast bronze statuette of Cybele seated with legs crossed on a throne in a loosely draped mantle; panel detailing to sides and rear of the throne, extended base to the forward edge; the hair drawn up in a chignon with braided band to the brow; a fruit (or flower?) in her right hand resting on her thigh, left hand resting flat on the head of a lion. [A video of this item is available to view on TimeLine Auctions website.] 1 kg, 15 cm (6"). Property of a London gentleman; acquired before 1980. Fine condition.
12th-14th century AD. A bronze plaque pendant, square with a bulb to each corner and pierced suspension lug, inscribed 'A?IOC / A?IOC / A?IOC / IHCOVC / XRICTOC' ('Holy, Holy, Holy, Jesus, Christ'"). 37.6 grams, 47mm (1 3/4"). From a private European collection; formerly in a German collection formed before 2000. Fine condition.
5th-7th century AD. A bronze polykandelion comprising a suspension hook and three short chains with lozenge bars supporting an openwork disc with six radiating lamp voids with cross and other motifs in between, central void with radiating petals. 1 kg, 37cm (14 1/2"). Property of a London lady, part of her family's Swiss collection; formerly acquired in the 1980s. Oil-filled glass vessels once hung from the round openings in this flat, circular hanging lamp or polykandelion. Such lamps cast beautiful shadows on walls, magnifying the designs of their disks on walls and floors. The shadows from this lamp, which is decorated with crosses radiating from the centre, would have emphasised its Christian symbolism. Enormous hanging lamps were used to light the great church of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, which the poet and courtier Paul the Silentiary described in 563 AD: 'Thus is everything clothed in beauty … no words are sufficient to describe the illumination in the evening: you might say that some nocturnal sun filled the majestic church with light.' [No Reserve] Very fine condition.
Han Dynasty, 206 BC-220 AD. A hollow-formed gilt-bronze scroll weight depicting two felines fighting, one biting the back of the other. A similar weight with animals in the Exhibition Kandai no Bijutsu, Osaka Art Museum, 1974, catalogue no 2/192. 225 grams, 77mm (3"). Property of a North London gentleman; formerly in the Mquinley collection, 1970s. [No Reserve] Fair condition.
1st century BC-1st century AD. A bronze figure of Minerva wearing a Corinthian-type helmet, advancing wearing a peplos gathered at the chest, left hand raised and right hand modelled to grip a spear(?"). 107 grams, 80mm (3"). From an old Dutch collection formed in the 1970s. [No Reserve] Very fine condition.
13th-6th century BC. A bronze dagger comprising a two-edged leaf-shaped blade with median lines, curved guard and waisted grip with rows of beading to the pommel; mounted on a custom-made stand. See Khorasani, M.M. Arms and Armour from Iran. The Bronze Age to the End of the Qajar Period, Tübingen, 2006. 185 grams total with stand, 22.3cm (8 3/4"). Property of a London gentleman; acquired London art market, 1970-1980. Fine condition.
1st millennium BC. A bronze axehead with ribbed tubular socket, openwork gryphon to the rear with feather detailing to the wings, bearded mask to the junction with the crescent blade. 324 grams, 19.5cm (7 3/4"). From the private collection of a North West London lady; previously with a central London gallery; formerly acquired before 1990. Fine condition.
12th century AD. A processional cross formed from bone plaques and bronze fittings comprising a central square with high-relief facing nimbate bust with hand raised in blessing, four sockets to accept carved bone arms each with ropework bands and high-relief carved figures in various poses, knop finials to the outer angles and attachment spike below, cells to each arm with inset garnet and emerald cabochons. Cf. Wamser, L. Die Welt von Byzanz - Europas Östliches Erbe, München, 2004, item 168 for type. 201 grams, 30cm (11 3/4"). From an old British private collection; formed between 1975 and 1985. Fine condition.
1st-2nd century AD. A bronze statuette of a prancing parade horse wearing a lion skin rug with the head wrapped around the neck, paws hanging beside the legs, the horse's head turned to left with long mane, left foreleg raised off the ground. 68 grams, 70mm (2 3/4"). Property of a Dutch gentleman; formerly in an old Dutch collection formed in the 1970s. [No Reserve] Fine condition, one leg absent.
1st millennium BC. A bronze figurine or weight in the form of a scorpion modelled in the round, the tail curved on its back, flat to the underside. 15.6 grams, 33mm (1 1/4"). Property of a North London gentleman; previously in the private collection of Mr S.M., Mayfair, London, formed 1970-1999. Fine condition.
7th century AD. A bronze box brooch, discoid in plan with slightly tapering sidewall with a band of dense interlace; the upper face with a triskele of beasts each executed in three-strand banding with profile bird-head, pellet to the eye, all surrounding a central boss; hollow to the reverse with catchplate and pin-lug, remains of ferrous pin and cloth impressions. [A video of this item is available to view on TimeLine Auctions website.] Cf. box brooches in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, in MacGregor, A. et al. A Summary Catalogue of the Continental Archaeological Collections, Oxford, 1997, item 1.1; Arwidsson, G. Valsgärde 7, Uppsala, 1977. 23 grams, 45mm (1 3/4"). Property of a lady; from her family collection by descent; formerly in a 19th century collection. Stylistically the present brooch is a very early type of box brooch, lower and flatter than the examples from the Viking age. These normally feature a slightly domed upper face divided into quadrants with beast-head detailing but this example features a triskele of Style II zoomorphic motifs. The antecedents of the design appear to lie in the Uppland region of Sweden and specifically such items as the shield-boss found in the Mound 7 ship-burial at Valsgärde (Arwidsson, 1977"). Very fine condition, wear to part of one side.
Warring States Period, 475-221 BC. A small bronze container, D-shaped in profile with pierced lugs to the rim, corresponding lugs to the slightly domed lid with grotesque mask taotie detailing; contained in a high felt lined quality wooden display box with brass fittings. See Song, L. Chinese Bronze Ware, Cambridge, 2011. 764 grams total, 72mm wide, box: 13.5cm (3, box: 5 1/4"). From an old Tokyo collection; formerly the property of a Japanese gentleman. [No Reserve] Fine condition.
12th-10th century BC. A bronze Troy type sword or rapier blade, leaf-shaped in plan; the midrib extending to the short tang with curved lateral extensions to the shoulders, tang with flattened finial to accept the hilt. Cf. Branigan, K. Aegean Metalwork of the Early and Middle Bronze Age, Oxford, 1974, plate 11, item 483 ascribed to Troy (Anatolian Troad"). 465 grams, 57.5cm (22 3/4"). From a private Austrian collection; formerly in a London private collection, acquired 1980s. Very fine condition.
10th-12th century AD. A bronze expanding arm cross pendant with raised rim, to the centre a high-relief image of nimbate Corpus Christi, wearing a folded loincloth, cross above, letters 'I' and 'E' to the side arms; remains of suspension loop above. 26 grams, 57mm (2 1/4"). Property of a London lady, part of her family's Swiss collection; formerly acquired in the 1980s. [No Reserve] Fine condition.
1st millennium BC. A bronze axehead with tubular socket and securing loop, crescent blade with band of incised geometric detailing to the rear edge extending onto the neck. 278 grams, 24cm (9 1/2"). From the private collection of a North West London lady; previously with a central London gallery; formerly acquired before 1990. Fine condition.
4th-7th century AD. A gold pendant in the form of a miniature bucket with filigree strap handle and knotwork band to the sidewall. See Khrapunov I. and Stylegar, F.A., Inter Ambo Maria, Contacts between Scandinavia and the Crimea in the Roman Period; and ????? ?, ?., ???????????? ?, ?, 1989, ?? ????? ????????? ?????????-???????? ???????? ??????? ? ????????? ??????, ??, No.3. 3.6 grams, 20mm (3/4"). From a London W1, UK, collection; acquired on the German art market before 2000. Pendants in the form of miniature buckets have been found in a number of pagan Anglo-Saxon and Viking contexts and are generally made of bronze or iron, with gold examples being rare; three gold examples were found with the hoard from Hoen, Norway. Bronze bucket amulets have been found at Driffield in Yorkshire, and Vimose bog in Denmark, among other places. In form they represent wooden buckets bound with bronze or iron bands which have been found in Anglo-Saxon and Viking graves and are believed to have held mead or ale and were used to replenish the cups from which warriors drank. As amulets they probably represent the ecstatic power of alcoholic drink and the role of women as the dispensers of these precious beverages. [No Reserve] Extremely fine condition.
1st century BC. A helmet of Pseudo-Illyrian form, the bowl made of two pieces of bronze, decorated from front to back by two hemispherical ribs, forming a double edge which runs from back to the front of the helmet, the two halves of the crown overlapping along the dividing seam, with three bronze rivets still visible; cheek-pieces either side. Cf. Chernenko, E. V. Skifskii dospekh (Scythian armour), Kiev, Naukova dumka (in Russian), 1968; Dedjulkin, A. V. 'Locally Made Protective Equipment of the Population of North-Western Caucasus in the Hellenistic Period', in Stratum Plus, n.3, 2014, pp.169-184; ????????? ?. ?., '????? ??????????? ??????? ?? ????????? ??????' (Sarmatian Age Helmets from Eastern Europe), in Stratum Plus, n.4, 2014, pp.249-284; ????????? ?. ?., '????? «????????» ????', (Novichikhin, A.M., 'A new Meotian helmet) in Parabellum Novum, Military History Journal, n.3 (36), ?????-?????????, 2015. This helmet is very similar to various samples found in the Scythian graves, although his origin is Mediterranean. Symonenko in 2014 individuated at least nine specimens of such category, partially fragmented or half broken, which he categorised variant I of the Illyrian helmet. He mentioned also the presence of three further helmets of this category in private collections, and one more in USA, plus a specimen in the Safari Park of Gelendzhik. All helmets of this type were found in the North-Western Caucasus (in Adygea"). The name of the typology came from the constant presence, on helmets of such category (especially characteristic of the so-called insular Illyrian helmets), of the double edge decorating the crown front to back. The chronological gap in the production of the original prototypes (from VII century BC on) and of these other specimens makes difficult to see the influence of the Illyrian helmets on the genesis of the pseudo-Illyrians (III-I century BC"). However one find in the necropolis of Nymphae (Chernenko, 1968, 92-93, fig.51) dated at the V-IV century BC seems to give the possibility that since this age the Illyrian helmets - always through the mediation of the Greeks - could have been diffused among the population of the North-Western Caucasus. 667 grams, 23.5cm (9 1/4"). From a London W1, UK, collection; acquired on the German art market before 2000; accompanied by an academic report by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato. The common feature of this helmet category is, besides the form and manufacturing technique, the circumstance that the two halves of the bowl are riveted with an overlap along the 'sagittal seam'. The bowl is usually hemispherical, compressed on the sides. The bottom edge is wrapped out and embossed, forming a low roller. Somewhat higher, the roller is raised higher over the rim of the bowl, turning up on the front and forming the quoted double edge, along the 'sagittal seam'. Constructive details and ornamentation of the crown are however different and allow us to individuate several variants of such helmets. This helmet belongs to the variant I, whose specimens have been found in Kurganinsk, in the necropolis of Sereginskii (grave 138) and Chetuk, in the Sanctuary near Psenaf (Symonenko, 2014, fig.14, nn.1-4"). Other helmets of this variant are visible in the Karakovsky collection, while, according to V.R. Ehrlich, another specimen from Mesmay is stored in the depots of the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow. The specimens of Chetuk and Sereginskii are decorated with stylised diadems, with volutes at the ends, like those of the Chalcidian-attic helmets; one of the Chetuk helmets shows also several vertical ribs, on the frontal and parietal parts of the crown. These motifs, typical of the contemporary pseudo-attic helmets are clearly perceived in this decoration, probably because they were familiar to the craftsmen who made the pseudo-Ilyrian ones. The cheek-guards of this specimen, which according to the author of the present report, are not pertinent and are from a different model. Fair condition, restored.
Saite Period, 624-525 BC. A bronze figure of Isis advancing on a rectangular base, wearing tripartite wig and with iconic 'stepped throne' (her hieroglyph) headdress. [A video of this item is available to view on TimeLine Auctions website.] See Andrews, C. Amulets of Ancient Egypt, London, 1994. 96 grams, 10.5cm (4"). Property of a London lady, part of her family's Swiss collection; formerly acquired in the 1980s. [No Reserve] Very fine condition.
12th-13th century AD. An iron single-edged knife with raised midrib and curved blade, the bronze handle formed as a rearing horse wearing an elaborate bridle, the forelegs resting on an inscribed shield, the tail curved forming a loop; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 440 grams total, knife: 22cm (8 1/2"). From an old Tokyo collection; previously the property of a Japanese gentleman since the early 1980s. [No Reserve] Fine condition.
13th-6th century BC. A substantial bronze cudgel with balustered finial, raised ropework bands to the cells each with a profile leaping lion. See Godard, F.& Y. Bronzes du Luristan,La haye, n.d. 393 grams, 21cm (8 1/4"). From the private collection of a North West London lady; previously with a central London gallery; formerly acquired before 1990. Fine condition.
Late Period, 664-332 BC. A bronze figure of Horus in falcon form standing on a rectangular base wearing the pshent crown and uraeus, pectoral collar. [A video of this item is available to view on TimeLine Auctions website.] 275 grams, 96mm (3 3/4"). Property of a London lady, part of her family's Swiss collection; formerly acquired in the 1980s. [No Reserve] Very fine condition.
18th-15th century BC. A Montelius Period I bronze thrusting sword with leaf-shaped blade, separate hilt with crescent lower guard, scaphoid-section grip and disc pommel; the blade with prominent midrib. 437 grams, 46cm (18"). Property of a Suffolk collector; formerly acquired on the European art market in the 1990s. Fine condition, slight bend to blade.
10th-12th century AD. A provincial square-section openwork bronze incense burner comprising a shallow tray with bun feet and a pierced lug to each face, pyramidal lid with facing bust to each side, cruciform plaque and ring handle. 346 grams, 17.5cm (7"). Property of a London lady, part of her family's Swiss collection; formerly acquired in the 1980s. [No Reserve] Fine condition.
12th-13th century AD. A gilt-bronze fragment from a spectacular altar cross comprising a single arm with hatched panel and keeled crystal in a cell and portions of two lateral arms with ellipsoid cells and green glass inserts, square cell between with clear glass insert. 30 grams, 52mm (2"). Found near Spilsby, Lincolnshire, UK in 2014. Very fine condition. Rare.
1st millennium BC. A substantial bronze rhyton with trumpet-shaped mouth and flared rim, angled joint and two pelletted collars, ram's head finial with ribbed horns and spout to the mouth; mounted on a custom-made stand. 551 grams total, 22cm (8 3/4"). From an old Tokyo collection; previously the property of a Japanese gentleman since the early 2010s. [No Reserve] Fine condition.
2nd millennium BC. A matched pair of bronze brooches, each a rod formed into a coiled headplate extending to a pair of loops and coil with pin to the reverse, pairs of separately formed coils forming lateral discs. 347 grams total, 21cm (8 1/4"). Property of a European gentleman living in the UK; formerly in a private collection formed in the 1990s. [2] Very fine condition, cleaned and conserved.
Late Qing Dynasty, 1616-1911 AD. A matched pair of substantial bronze fittings, each a taotie grotesque face beneath a facing bat with spread wings, beak forming a ring and linked pelta-shaped knocker with opposed bird-heads; mounting bars to the reverse. 1.3 kg total, 21cm each (8 1/4"). Property of a London doctor; previously in the collection of her husband by inheritance; formerly acquired during travels in the Far East during the 1920s. [2] Fine condition.
Villanova Culture, 7th century BC. A biconvex ceramic funerary urn with flared everted rim, carination to the waist and single loop handle, band of incised multilinear square cells (some with motifs); the lid an inverted footed bowl with thick loop handle and two lateral lugs to the rim, incised ropework meander pattern below the rim. See Hayes, J.W. Etruscan and Italic Pottery in the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, 1985, item A1 for type. 4.5 kg total, 42cm (16 1/2"). From an old Tokyo collection; previously the property of a Japanese gentleman since the early 1970s. This type of biconical urn is typical of the Villanovan culture of the 9th–8th centuries BC. It was used to hold the ashes of human bodies after cremation. It was hand-modelled in clay by the impasto technique and decorated with incised designs, usually geometric motifs. When interred, these urns were covered by an inverted bowl or with a bronze helmet, making a statement about the status of the deceased. [No Reserve] Fine condition.
1st century AD. A bronze hanging oil lamp comprising a central bowl and three radiating nozzles each with a flared rim and pierced lug to accept a suspension chain, three interstitial wings shaped like the prow of a galley with incised detailing, chains attached to a distributor ring. [A video of this item is available to view on TimeLine Auctions website.] Cf. Mattusch, C.C. Pompeii and the Roman Villa: Art and Culture Around the Bay of Naples, Washington, 2008, item 47. 868 grams, 19cm (7 1/2"). Formerly in a private European collection; previously in a German private collection formed 1950-1970s. Very fine condition, cleaned and conserved.
6th-8th century AD. A bronze figurine of Buddha standing nimbate wearing a dhoti, left hand placed across the thigh and right hand held straight, discoid nimbus to the rear; with modern mounting stud. 194 grams, 11.9cm (4 3/4'"). From an old Tokyo collection; previously the property of a Japanese gentleman since the early 1980s. [No Reserve] Fine condition.
1st millennium BC. A large group of mainly complete bronze votive snakes, all with raised lozenge-form head ready to strike, some with their body elongated and some in tight curls; one larger snake with flat-section body with scale detailing to the back and head, applied pellet eyes. 245 grams total, 54-270mm (2 - 10 1/2"). Property of a London gentleman; previously acquired on the UK art market in the 1990s. [25] Fair condition.
13th-6th century BC. A bronze figure of a ram with legs extended, mouth open. See Godard, F.& Y. Bronzes du Luristan, La haye, n.d. 91.76 grams, 83mm (3 1/4"). From the private collection of a North West London lady; previously with a central London gallery; formerly acquired before 1990. Fine condition, one horn partly absent.
2nd-3rd century AD. A bronze oil lamp formed as a bull's head with ovoid base, hinge-lugs to the brow with draped chains to each side, filling hole to the brow, loop handle to the rear with pschent crown reflector, nozzle emerging from the bull's mouth. [A video of this item is available to view on TimeLine Auctions website.] Cf. Bailey, D. M., Catalogue of the Lamps in the British Museum IV, BM, 1996, Q3599 for a less well detailed example. 283 grams, 9.5cm (3 3/4"). From an old Dutch collection formed in the 1970s. Very fine condition. Rare.
4th-2nd century BC. A bronze strainer comprising a shallow bowl with concentric ribbed rim, central strainer and two triangular ledge handles with lateral scrolls and recurved snake-headed finials. For similar examples and a general discussion of type, cf. Reeder, Ellen D., Hellenistic Art in the Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore, 1988, p.125, no.130; A Passion for Antiquities, Ancient Art from the collection of Barbara and Lawrence Fleischman, The J. Paul Getty Museum, Malibu, 1994, pp.77-78, no.31D; and The Search for Alexander, exhibition catalogue, 1980, p.167, no.130. 198 grams, 20cm (8"). Property of an Essex lady; formerly in a 1980s collection. Elaborate strainers, such as this present example, were used at symposia and festive occassions for the purpose of preventing the dregs of wine from entering an individual's wine cup. Fine condition, one handle repaired.
2nd millennium BC. A bronze axehead with scooped lower edge to the blade and curved cutting edge, the socket with two rectangular panels each with an advancing horse(?) in low relief; mounted on a custom-made stand. 1.3 kg total, 19.3cm including stand (7 1/2"). From an old Tokyo collection; previously the property of a Japanese gentleman since the late 1990s. [No Reserve] Fair condition. Rare.
12th-10th century BC. A bronze Troy type sword or rapier blade, leaf-shaped in plan; the midrib extending to the short tang with curved lateral extensions to the shoulders, tang with flattened finial to accept the hilt. Cf. Branigan, K. Aegean Metalwork of the Early and Middle Bronze Age, Oxford, 1974, plate 11, item 483 ascribed to Troy (Anatolian Troad"). 408 grams, 54.5cm (21 1/2"). Property of a North London gentleman; acquired on the UK art market before 2000. Fine condition.
1st century BC-1st century AD. A bronze lamp or vessel lid with figure of Faunus (Pan) advancing, wearing a sheepskin kilt secured at the waist and with a short tail, holding a shepherd's crook in the left hand and playing the syrinx held to the mouth in the right hand; basal ring to the underside of the base, pierced hinge lug. [A video of this item is available to view on TimeLine Auctions website.] Cf. Rolland, H. Bronzes Antiques de Haute Provence, Paris, 1965, item 142 for type. 215 grams, 10.5cm (4"). From an important London collection; previously in the Nasser collection, kept in the UK since 1993. Fine condition.
12th-13th century AD. A detailed bronze candlestick formed as a crouching lion with open jaws, hatched panels to the chest, recurved tail with serrated outer edge and loop finial providing a handle for carrying; the body pierced vertically from neck to chest to accept a columnar candle holder, now absent and horizontally through the open mouth; front legs with stub paws and hindlegs with horizontal feet; resembling an aquamanile in general form and in some detailing. [A video of this item is available to view on TimeLine Auctions website.] See Egan, G. The Medieval Household. Daily Living c.1150-c.1450, London, 2010, item 425 for similar example; also The Lear Collection of Socket Candlesticks, Christie's sale 15th December 1998, lots 27 (sold for £17,250 hammer) and 28 (guided £8,000-10,000"). See Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS), report reference number NMS-11D931. 177 grams, 88mm (3 1/2"). Found by David Steadman whilst metal detecting near Wenhaston, Suffolk, UK, in 2018; accompanied by a copy of the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report, reference number NMS-11D931; and several old photographs of other known examples including the Victoria and Albert Museum example. Examples modelled in the round with anatomical detailing, as this one is, are extremely rare while cruder examples showing little detail have been found in Belgium, Denmark and elsewhere. Very fine condition. In comparison to the example held at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, this one is of better overall quality and slightly smaller. A rare opportunity to acquire an extremely rare museum-quality English candlestick.
3rd century AD. A bronze lidded reliquary jar, squat in profile and raised ring and knop handler to the lid; the contents comprising mainly glass beads of various types including tubular and spherical, and other offerings. 584 grams total, 2-133mm (1 /4 - 5 1/4"). From an old Tokyo collection; previously the property of a Japanese gentleman since the early 1980s. [No Reserve] Fine condition.
1st century BC-1st century AD. A bronze Hercules standing nude with club and lionskin to the left arm, strap to the shoulder and right arm extended; hollow to the reverse, possibly from a frieze. 400 grams, 18cm (7"). From a London W1, UK, collection; acquired on the German art market before 2000. [No Reserve] Fine condition.
Late 2nd century AD-early 3rd century AD. Another 'hauntingly unforgettable work of art', with distinct artistic parallels to the famous Crosby Garrett helmet found in Cumbria in 2010; a bronze sports helmet mask of the exceptionally rare Mater Castrorum or female type, showing the head of an Amazon warrior or goddess with locks of wavy hair, topped with a tutulus hairstyle, diadems, garlands and other jewellery; the garland-diadem has a central knot with two hanging curls and is decorated with X-patterns inscribed inside rectangles; this mask was removable, being capable of being taken off at any time, proving that this type of helmet could be used not only during parades and other ceremonies, but also in combat. Property of a London collector; previously in the Craddock collection having been acquired from a London gallery in 2006; formerly in the Brian Grover collection of Surrey since acquisition in York in the 1970s; formerly in the collection of Peter Minns; believed originally from Northern England; accompanied by a copy of a signed acquisition and provenance declaration/receipt dated 23 May 2005; a sales invoice to A. L. Craddock from 2006; a metallurgic analytical report, written by Metallurgist Dr. Brian Gilmour of the Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art, University of Oxford, report number 609/131084; an academic report by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato who will be making a presentation on this helmet at our reception on 2nd September 2019; and a report by the conservation specialist who restored the helmet, discussing the similarities of style and workmanship to the 'Crosby Garrett' helmet, which concludes that it is likely made by the same craftsman, or at least from the same workshop; accompanied by an Art Loss Register certificate no. S00149981. Published: Illustrated on the front page of Antiques Trade Gazette, 31 August 2019, Roman mask leads antiquities parade, with further editorial on pages 32 & 33 entitled Mask 'matches Crosby Garrett find'. 580 grams, 26 x 24 cm without stand (10 1/4 x 9 1/2"). See Robinson, R., The Armour of Imperial Rome, New York, 1975; Garbsch, J., Römische Paraderustüngen, München, 1979; James, S., Excavations at Dura Europos 1928-1937, Final Report VII, The Arms and Armour and other military equipment, London, 2004; D'Amato R., A.Negin, Decorated Roman Armour, London, 2017. The two most evident samples resembling our specimen are the mask of Nola, today at the British Museum, and the mask of the Paul Getty Museum (D'Amato-Negin, 2017, p.220, fig.255 letters d-e). Maybe, as the facial mask from Nola, our mask depicts a goddess, Minerva or Victoria or Diana. This goddess is well suited to being depicted on protective arms since, unlike Mars, who loved blood, war and violence in any form, Minerva represented sacred defensive war and was the goddess of defence, symbolising the protection and patronage granted to the soldier. The stylistic type of the mask suggests that it is from the same school who made the masks of Nola (Italy?) and of the Paul Getty Museum (Syria or Egypt?). The similarity with the latter is astonishing, and like in the one of the Getty, the empty spaces of the diadem were probably originally encrusted with precious stones. This mask helmet belongs to the category of Roman mask helmets usually employed in the sportive games, acting also as military training, of the so called Hyppika Gymnasia described by Arrian of Nicomedia in his Taktika, written down during the age of the Emperor Hadrian (117-138 AD). The finds of two opposed ‘male’ and ‘female’ kind of masks in the military camp of Straubing, together with items of arms and equipment of opposing teams which performed a theatrical cavalry tournament, allowed to understand that the two groups performed, in their exercises, the mythical fight amongst Greeks and Amazons. This theatrical Amazonomachy was popular among Roman soldiers as evidenced by the fact that it is depicted on one of the three oval shields of the third century AD from Dura Europos (James, 2004, pl.VII). The representation of an Amazonomachy scene was not only a tribute to mythological tradition. In warfare, time after time the Romans encountered women fighting against them: Flavius Vopiscus wrote that women dressed in male attire (apparently, Sarmatian women warriors) used to fight against the Romans on the side of the Goths even in the late third century AD (Scriptores Historia Augusta, Divus Aurelianus, XXXIV, 1). Therefore, the imitation of confrontation with these militant women might be quite popular for theatrical cavalry tournaments, as well as for the visualisation of mythological scenes (D'Amato-Negin, 2017, p.213). A. Negin, however, was able to individuate three different types of such female masks used in such tournaments and probably also on the battlefield: the ‘Amazon’ type, the ’Mater Castrorum’ type, and the ‘Medusa’ type. Our specimen belongs to the Mater Castrorum type. E. Künzl (2008, pp.115-117) noted the similarity of some masks with images of soldiers’ empresses of the third century AD and suggested their relationship with the cult of mater castrorum (mother of the camp). It is commonly known that, besides civilian titles, an empress received this honorary title for her participation in military campaigns, like Faustina the Younger or Julia Domna (D'Amato-Negin, 2017, p.222). Examples in this group of masks date from the second half of the second to the first half of the third centuries AD. It was not necessary to make an exact copy of the portrait of a woman of the imperial family, it was sufficient to have a few distinguishing features on an item and achieve a general resemblance. According to J. Oliver, celebrations in the calends of January (Kalendae Ianuariae), as marked in the military calendar from Dura-europos (Feriale Duranum), namely 1 January, were intended to honour and bring sacrifices to the mother patroness of the military camp (mater castrorum). Negin assumed that during the solemn and theatrical ceremonies, masks of this type could be worn by the celebrant representing the divine patroness of military camps and performing games in cavalry tournaments. The relationship, at least, of a number of female masks to the cult of mater castrorum partly explains the fact that Arrian in his treatise on cavalry tournaments mentioned nothing about masks depicting female faces, as Faustina the Younger was awarded this title forty years after this source had been written. Putting on the attributes of a different gender identity, male soldiers impersonated women both in theatrical performances of Amazonomachy and in ceremonies honouring the ‘mother of the camp’. Very fine condition, an exceptional survival from Roman Britain. Excessively rare. [A video of this item is available to view on TimeLine Auctions website.]
1st millennium BC. A strongly convex bronze shield, cast and hammered, the surface shows a decoration in repoussé ornamented with twelve concentric bands; beginning from the centre, a possible star motive is followed by dots and circles, waves and small triangles in relief; after a line of dot-punched outlines the same embossed geometric motives with circles, waves and triangles are repeated three times; after it a concentric pearled band divided in three lines is arranged along the edge circumference; there are no traces on the flat edge of holes for the fixing of the leather (or other organic material) lining, which was therefore attached with animal glue and not by sewing; a central hole was probably destined to attach a pointed boss, usually of conoid shape; two similar round bronze shields - datable to the 11th century BC, were part of the famous collection of Axel Guttmann (Christie's 2004, pp.28-29); one of them shows the same decorative pattern on the rim, and the small triangles in relief. Ettinghausen, R., 7000 years of Iranian Art, Washington, 1964-1965; Dalley S.M. – Postgate, J.N., Tablets from Fort Shalmaneser, (Cuneiform Texts from Nimrud, 3), Oxford, 1984; Born H., ‘Herstellung und Gebrauch bronzener Rundschilde aus Nordwest-Iran, in Acta Praehistorica et Archaeologica 20, 1988; Christie's, The Axel Guttmann Collection of Ancient Arms and Armour, part 2, London, 2004; Dezs? T., The Assyrian Army, I, the structure of the neo Assyrian Army; 2. Cavalry and Chariotry, Budapest, 2012. 61.5cm (24 1/4"). Property of a London gentleman; acquired from his father's collection; accompanied by an academic report by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato, and a positive metallurgic analytical report, written by metallurgist Dr. Brian Gilmour of the Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art, University of Oxford, report number 600/131392. This bronze shield finds a good parallel also in a half preserved specimen from North-West Iran of the ex-collection Axel Guttmann (AG 370 / R 79, acquired in Freiburg in 1991"). These kind of shields were used in Luristan and neighbouring cultures (Elamites, Zagros Tribesmen, like Hurrians, Lullubians, Kutians, and Kassites), as well as from Urartu, West-Iranian and Northern Caucasian civilizations around the Caspian Sea. Such shields were the forerunners of those worn by the Assyrian Warriors as well, especially from the chariots. Two texts of the Nimrud Horse Lists mention relatively large numbers of bronze shields belonging to chariots as standard parts (Dalley–Postgate 1984, no. 96, 4, 9, 21; no. 97, 6"). These shields were probably the shields hanging on the backs of the chariots depicted by many sculptures and were used by the ‘third men’ of the chariots to defend the other members of the crew on campaigns. This costume was probably inherited from the Assyrians from the cultures of their enemies, or in any case a war costume practised in all Caucasus and Near East. Always among the warlike Assyrians, the royal chariot and the regular chariots were manned by a crew of three: the driver, the warrior/king, and the ‘third man,’ who was equipped with two large rounded bronze shields which were plain or were decorated by rosettes and geometric motifs arranged in concentric circles, like our specimen (p.156"). Fine condition, restored. Rare.
4th-3rd millennium BC. A hollow-formed bronze vessel with bulbous body and trumpet-shaped base, broad scooped lip to the spout with cover and strap handle with collar; mounted on a custom-made stand. [A video of this item is available to view on TimeLine Auctions website.] 472 grams total, 16.5cm including stand (6 1/2"). From an old Tokyo collection; previously the property of a Japanese gentleman since the late 2000s. [No Reserve] Fine condition.
13th-14th century AD. A bronze mirror with one polished face, the reverse with central raised knop and two human-headed lions on a foliate background, the lions with conjoined wings and pelletted tails, a band of text to the outer edge with raised rim; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 295 grams total, mirror, 11cm (4 1/4"). Property of a London gentleman; previously acquired on the UK art market in the 1990s. Fine condition, some piercing.
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