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Lot 223
1st century AD. A bronze brooch in the form of an s-curved dolphin with blunt nose, annular eyes, triangular fins and chevron tail; the pin hinged beneath the drum-shaped cross bar and locked by the catchplate below the tail. 13 grams, 37mm (1 1/2"). Property of a gentleman; acquired in the late 1960s-early 1970s. . Very fine condition.
Lot 1619
2nd millennium BC. A bronze axe head with ovoid socket and ribbed tongue-shaped blade, two elliptical piercings to each face extending to the socket. See discussion in Godard, F. The Art of Iran, London, 1965, p.76-82. 157 grams, 10cm (4"). From a German collection; acquired on the German art market before 1990. [No Reserve]. Fine condition.
Lot 2312
1st millennium AD. A substantial bronze horse and rider figurine on an openwork rectangular base; the horse with reins, halter, crupper and incised hatched panels to the shoulders and withers; the rider with saddle, hatched helmet, quiver over the shoulder, shield to the left hip, holding a bow(?) in the right hand. 425 grams, 95mm (3 3/4"). Property of a Yorkshire, UK, collector; acquired in the 1990s; thence by descent. . Very fine condition.
Lot 1113
9th-11th century AD. A mixed group of bronze penannular brooches, three with polyhedral stops to the band and one with beast-head finials. Cf. Arbman, H. Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940, plate 48. 47 grams total, 36-44mm (1 1/2 - 1 3/4"). Property of an American collector; acquired 1980-2000. [4, No Reserve]. Fine condition.
Lot 256
1st-2nd century AD. A bronze mount formed as the head and neck of a gryphon with small pointed face, large ears, notched dorsal crest; pierced at the chest for attachment. 16 grams, 38mm (1 1/2"). Property of an Essex collector; acquired on the European art market. [No Reserve]. Fine condition.
Lot 1271
Warring States, 475-221 BC. A bronze belt hook with tapering body inlaid with gold and silver swirling pattern; hook end in the form of a stylised dragon head; underside with raised boss decorated with inlaid silver scrolling triskele pattern. 89 grams, 12cm (4 3/4"). Property of a London collector; by inheritance from his grandfather; acquired during travels in the Far East in the 1920s. . Fine condition.
Lot 1805
16th century AD. A Paduan cast bronze mount in the form of a naked satyr standing on a bar terminating in a recurved hoof; the left hand gripping the hair and right hand bearing an amphora of wine raised to the shoulder; to the rear, a bracket for attachment; supplied with custom-made display stand. Cf. Kaufmann, L. The Noble Savage: Satyrs and Satyr Families in Renaissance Art, Michigan, 1981, for discussion. 1.2 kg, 20.5cm including stand (8"). Ex Levett Collection, Musée d’Art Classique de Mougins, France; formerly with Peter Sternberg, early 1980s, and an XRF ancient metal test certificate from Oxford X-ray Fluorescence Ltd accompanies the piece. During the Renaissance the Satyr personified evil, or rather lust, one of the Seven Deadly Sins of the Bible. The well known antics of the satyrs from Greek and Roman art and literature, which included drunkenness and fornication, would have led to them being seen in a negative light in Christian Europe. However, around 1500 Satyrs started to be seen for a short while in a new light, reflecting interest in primitivism, at the start of the age of exploration. Thus satyrs began to be depicted together with their families, and it is possible that this piece formed part of a larger group, possibly an inkstand. Such inkstands were the characteristic product of the workshop of Severo Calzetta, known as Severo da Ravenna, who trained in Padua but spent most of his career working in the city of Ravenna, where he developed a successful business producing bronzes in large numbers. Utensils such as his inkstands were produced as separately cast components which were screwed together to create the finished product. Many examples of the satyr inkstand survive but very few which are absolutely intact. . Very fine condition.
Lot 580
6th-4th century BC. A bronze bow brooch comprising a lozenge-section bow with ribbing and pyramidal projections, ropework bulb and single-coil spring to each end, catchplate and integral pin. Cf. Hattatt, R. Brooches of Antiquity, Oxford, 1987, item 1371 for type. 30 grams, 55mm (2 1/4"). Property of a London gentleman; acquired before 1995. . Very fine condition.
Lot 1058
9th-11th century AD. A gold pendant with domed bottom, flat-section wall and filigree handle, ornamented with granulation and filigree detailing. Cf. Meaney, A. Anglo-Saxon Amulets and Curing Stones, Oxford, BAR British Series 96, 1981, p.166-168. 2.10 grams, 16mm (1/2"). Property of a German gentleman; acquired on the European art market in the 1990s. 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.
Lot 1030
5th-7th century AD. A bronze mount of a male and female figure each holding the hips of the other, hollow to the reverse. See Oldtidens Ansigt, Det kongelige Nordiske Oldskiftselska og Jysk Arkaeologisk Selskab, 1990, p.134, 138, for the gesture and design. 1.83 grams, 27mm (1"). From an old Munich collection; acquired on the German art market before 2000. A parallel to the style and pose of this 'couple' can be seen on several small bronzes inspired by Roman statuettes representing gods. However, similar bronze statues were already known in Scandinavia since the Bronze Age and were most likely of a ritual significance. The specific crossed hand on the chest is a puzzling symbol, possibly symbolising the gesture of a specific god, ritual act or blessing. Some facial similarities can be seen on the Broddenbjerg man, a wooden statue with a strong phallic symbolism, most likely pointing to fertility. Another similarity can be observed on rock art in Scandinavia, especially the long neck features and the image of a 'divine couple', a strong motif found extensively in the late Iron Age on many golden sheets, known as guldgubbers. Several scholars argue that this image represents the marriage of god Freyr and giantess Gerd; however it may also represent a union of Freyr with his sister Freyja. From later sources, it is known that the Vanir, an ancient race of gods, had a custom to marry or have intercourse with their siblings. Njord, the father of Freyr and Freya was from this tribe, and sources suggest that they were conceived with his sister-wife. She might have been the mysterious Suebi goddess Nerthus, which the Roman historian Tacitus wrote about in Germania. Her statue was kept in a sacred grove on an unknown island, drawn in a holy cart and only priests could touch her. Everywhere the goddess came she was met with celebration of peace and hospitality. After she returned to the temple, everything was washed by slaves, who were drowned short after. Her connection with fertility, peace, and water, definitely points to the Vanir race; and she shares several similarities with the later worshipping of Freyr. This mount probably represents either Njord and Nerthus, or Freyr and Freya, and may had been used as a votive offering or worn as an amulet to invoke the fertile powers of those gods. [No Reserve]. Fine condition.
Lot 479
10th-13th century AD. A mixed group of bronze seal rings with intaglio designs: a cross potent with pellets; a 'V' monogram; a bird and tree(?); a nimbate angel with cross. 16 grams total, 19-26mm (3/4 - 1"). Property of a European collector; acquired Europe, 1980s-1990s. [4, No Reserve]. Fine condition.
Lot 1577
1st millennium BC. A bronze axehead with flared blade, curved edge, ovoid-section socket with circumferential bands of scroll ornament, two rectangular lateral slots, peacock modelled in the round to the rear; mounted on a custom-made stand. 782 grams, 27cm including stand (10 3/4"). Property of a London gentleman; acquired London art market, 1970-1980. . Fine condition.
Lot 340
2nd century AD. A bronze figure-of-eight open oil lamp with flat base and vertical walls, basal ring; loop handle to the rear with ivy-leaf reflector; central boss with separately-cast eagle figurine. Cf. Bailey, D.M. A Catalogue of the Lamps in the British Museum. IV. Lamps of Metal and Stone and Lampstands, London, 1988, item 3755 for type. 256 grams, 12.5cm (5"). Property of a Surrey collector; acquired in the early 1970s. . Fine condition, repaired.
Lot 1227
7th-9th century AD. A group of bronze and iron items comprising: ten equal-armed cross pendants; an omega-shaped pendant with animal heads to the terminals; a bronze weight with deeply incised cross to the top and bottom; an iron weight with lobed sides. 68 grams total, 10-26mm (1/4 - 1"). Acquired on the German art market in the 1990s. [13, No Reserve]. Fair condition.
Lot 208
1st century AD and later. A mixed group of bronze finger rings comprising: three with discoid bezel and hatched cross motif; one with S-scroll motif; two with small geometric bezel; one with enamelled cells; one with hexafoil, incised lines; two with incised pellets. 59 grams total, 19-25mm (3/4 - 1"). UK art market, acquired prior to 2000. [10]. Very fine condition.
Lot 939
5th century AD. A gilt-bronze rectangular buckle plate with straps and rear riveted panel, vertical ribbing to the edges, complex inlaid pattern of cloison garnets, three with stepped edges; tongue with forward edge curved over the loop, discoid shield with raised cell and inset kidney-shaped garnet cloison; substantial carved rock crystal loop. See Menghin, W. The Merovingian Period. Europe Without Borders, Berlin, 2007, for similar examples, e.g. I.12.1, I.13.1, I.15.4. 163 grams, 86mm overall (3 1/2"). Property of a gentleman; acquired in the late 1960s-early 1970s. Accompanied by a positive X-Ray Fluorescence metal analysis certificate. A small number of belt buckles made from rock crystal have been found and mostly related to the Ostrogoths, the Eastern branch of the Gothic confederacy of tribes; the Western branch being the Visigoths who would go on to settle Southern France, Spain and North Africa. The Ostrogoths traced their origins to the Greutungi – a branch of the Goths who had migrated southward from the Baltic Sea and established a kingdom north of the Black Sea, during the third and fourth centuries, and their name would appear to mean 'glorified by the rising sun'. The relative scarcity of rock crystal buckles would indicate that they were reserved for the elite and that they were only used for special occasions, such as religious ceremonies, diplomatic meetings, and other court ceremonial; the fragile nature of the stone would make them unpractical to wear on a daily basis, particularly in warfare. Rock crystal had been regarded as having special qualities since the Neolithic when pebbles of the crystal had been placed in graves. It would go on to be revered by the Romans and manufactured into luxury items, and it is possibly this influence, along with a native belief in the magical power of the stone, that led to it being used for the aristocracy. . Very fine condition. Rare.
Lot 128
3rd century AD. A round-section gold hop supporting a discoid plaque with beaded border, cell with inset jasper cloison, intaglio motif of Fortuna standing with rudder and cornucopia. Cf. Ruseva-Slokoska, L. Roman Jewellery, Sofia, 1991, item 222. 3.79 grams, 19mm overall, 16.19mm internal diameter (approximate size British K 1/2, USA 5 1/2, Europe 10.58, Japan 10) (3/4"). From a Harley Street private collection of jewellery, formed over 25 years. Fortuna, the goddess of fate, destiny and good luck, was extremely popular in the Roman Empire and is one of the most commonly depicted deities. She was intimately connected to the fate of an individual, family, the state and the Imperial family and was often depicted as the protective deity of a city, such as the famous bronze statue of her by Eutychides that stood in the city of Antioch. She is commonly depicted as a matronly figure wearing a crown in the shape of the walls of a city, and carrying a cornucopia, that represented the bounty of good fortune that she could bestow, as well as a rudder that symbolised her guiding the fate of people. The stone was examined in detail by Dr. Bonewitz who observed: 'An attractive yellow-brown jasper, with fine detail in the figure.' . Very fine condition.
Lot 452
6th-10th century AD. A bronze steelyard and chains comprising: a square-section bar with biconical finials, hinged suspension hook to one face and remains of another, incised graduations to the shank; separate yoke with U-shaped hinged bar, two substantial chains each with a hook finial. 315 grams total, steelyard: 27cm (10 1/2"). From a German collection; acquired on the German art market before 1990. [No Reserve]. Fine condition.
Lot 1224
5th-6th century AD. A flat-section bronze plaque with one rolled edge, punched triangles to the border enclosing a Christogram with punched roundels, incised asterisk and image of a fishing boat. 15 grams, 76mm (3"). Property of an Essex, UK collector; acquired London art market, 1960s-1980s. [No Reserve]. Fine condition, edges torn and chipped.
Lot 451
6th-10th century AD. A bronze steelyard and chains comprising: a square-section bar with biconical finials, hinged suspension hooks to three faces, incised graduations to the shank; separate yoke with U-shaped hinged bar, two substantial chains each with a hook finial. 621 grams total, steelyard: 35.5cm (14"). From a German collection; acquired on the German art market before 1990. [No Reserve]. Fine condition.
Lot 449
6th-7th century AD. A bronze lamp with flared base, D-section bowl and nozzle, raised rim to the flat upper face, two pierced lateral lugs, loop handle to the rear with crescent reflector and small loop. Cf. Bailey, D.M. A Catalogue of the Lamps in the British Museum. IV. Lamps of Metal and Stone and Lampstands, London, 1988, item 3797 for type. 493 grams, 15.5cm (6"). From a German collection; acquired on the German art market before 1990. [No Reserve]. Fine condition.
Lot 2442
16th-12th century BC. A mixed group of Late Bronze Age ceramic bowls comprising: two large, buff-coloured, with painted hatching, stirrup-shaped handle below the rim; one similar, terracotta, flat base. Cf. Amiran, R. Ancient Pottery of the Holy Land, Jerusalem, 1963, plate 38 item 6, 1.1 kg total, 17-25cm (6 3/4 - 9 3/4"). From a German collection; acquired on the German art market before 1990. [3, No Reserve]. Fine condition, one repaired.
Lot 2394
2nd millennium BC. A mixed bronze group comprising: three ibex figurines, each on a flared rectangular base with attachment holes and pierced body; a procession of two ibexes modelled in the round. 61 grams total, 37-39mm (1 1/2"). From a German collection; acquired on the German art market before 1990. [4, No Reserve]. Fine condition.
Lot 305
1st-3rd century AD. A bronze pair of medical tweezers with flat-section arms, scooped ends, balustered knop finial. Cf. Milne, J.S. Surgical Instruments in Greek and Roman Times, Oxford, 1907, plate XXVI, item 1. 24 grams, 12.5cm (13"). From an important Spanish collection; accompanied by a copy of the Spanish export permit. . Fine condition.
Lot 1566
2nd-3rd century AD. A sheet bronze face-plate from a cavalry sports helmet (Russel-Robinson Type E) with repoussé detailing to the hair and coif, brow-band of square panels with ovoid centres, raised herringbone eyebrows and eyelashes; openwork eyes each with central ring, pierced nostrils and mouth; hole to each side of the chin. Cf. mask from the Straubing Hoard in Travis, H. & J. Roman Helmets, Stroud, 2014, fig.89. See Garbsch, J. Romische Paraderustungen: Katalog der Ausstellung, Munich, 1978, pl. 24.4 for a similar example from Visegrad, Hungary. Accompanied by an Art Loss Register certificate. 358 grams, 30cm (11 3/4"). Property of a Suffolk gentleman; acquired before 2000. Accompanied by a copy of positive metallurgic analytical results, written by Metallurgist Dr. Peter Northover (ex Department of Materials, Materials Science-Based Archaeology Group & Department of Materials, University of Oxford"). The face-plate resembles a mask from the Straubing Hoard. The features have an 'Eastern' appearance enhanced by the construction of the eye-rings. 'Cavalry Sports' helmets are a class of ornate, embossed headgear used in parades, military exercises and on the battlefield. According to Arrian of Nicomedia, a Roman provincial governor and a close friend of Hadrian, face mask helmets were used in cavalry parades and sporting mock battles called hippika gymnasia. Parades or tournaments played an important part in maintaining unit morale and fighting effectiveness. They took place on a parade ground situated outside a fort and involved the cavalry practicing maneuvering and the handling of weapons such as javelins and spears. Parades would have taken place at several times in the year, especially at religious festivals and on days marking the birth, and accession to the throne, of the Emperor. Hippika gymnasia were colourful tournaments among the elite cavalry of the army, the alae. Both men and horses wore elaborate suites of equipment on these occasions, often in the guise of Greeks and Amazons. Calvary helmets were made from a variety of metals and alloys, often from gold-coloured alloys or iron covered with tin. They were decorated with embossed reliefs and engravings depicting the war god Mars and other divine and semi-divine figures associated with the military. . Very fine condition, restored.
Lot 869
Late 1st millennium BC. A penannular round-section bracelet with square-cut ends. See Taylor, J.T. Bronze Age Goldwork of the British Isles, Cambridge, 1980. 76 grams, 69mm (2 3/4"). Property of a North London collector; acquired in the 1970s. Accompanied by a positive X-Ray Fluorescence metal analysis certificate. . Extremely fine condition.
Lot 206
1st century AD and later. A mixed group of bronze finger rings of various types including plain hoop, discoid bezel, decorated hoop, trumpet-bezel, square bezel, inset glass cabochon and others. 330 grams total, 16-27mm (3/4 - 1"). UK art market, acquired prior to 2000. [90]. Fair to very fine condition.
Lot 977
6th century AD. A mixed group of bronze brooch and other fragments comprising: a cruciform brooch of Type West Stow Heath with single round knop to the headplate, spade-shaped finial with punched roundels; the bow and footplate from a cruciform brooch with lappets and beast-head finial; the footplate from a small-long brooch with flange to the reverse; the footplate to a small-long brooch with incised ring-and-dot details, notched edges; the bow and headplate from a cruciform brooch with large knop modelled in the round; a small-long brooch with discoid head, ring-and-dot detailing; a pelta-shaped plaque with two attachment rivets. For cruciform brooch see West, S. A Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Finds From Suffolk, East Anglian Archaeology 84, Ipswich, 1998, fig.146 (22"). 99 grams total, 27-93mm (1 - 3 3/4"). Found Nottinghamshire, UK, 1990s-2000s. [7, No Reserve]. Fine condition.
Lot 1467
14th-15th century AD. A substantial discoid bronze platter with flange rim, central field of incised floral interlace with advancing griffin, band of reserved calligraphic text and guilloche to the rim. 1.3 kg, 43.5cm (17 1/4"). From the collection of a North West London gentleman; acquired in the 1980s. . Fair condition.
Lot 1222
9th-12th century AD. A bronze aspergillum or liturgical implement used to sprinkle holy water, comprising an octagonal-section shank with collars and suspension ring; hollow-formed ovoid bulb with openwork bands and metallic bead inside. 70 grams, 12.5cm (5"). Property of an Essex, UK collector; acquired London art market, 1960s-1980s. [No Reserve]. Fine condition.
Lot 1741
12th-20th century AD. A mixed bronze group comprising: an annular pendant with radiating lobes, pierced suspension lug, pellet detailing; an openwork rosette pendant; a rectangular pendant with dagged lower edge, billeted border; one similar with rounded shoulders; a horseshoe pendant with horse-head and loop. 65 grams total, 36-54mm (1 1/2 - 2 1/4"). From a Surrey collection; formed between 1990-2000. [5, No Reserve]. Fine condition, usage wear.
Lot 250
1st-2nd century AD. A bronze pendant formed as male genitals with a crescentic plate, clenched fist to the left and phallus to the right suspended from a thick hoop with smaller hoops to the lower edge. Cf. Rolland, H. Bronzes Antiques de Haute Provence, Paris, 1965, items 433-5. 45 grams, 74mm (3"). Property of an Essex collector; acquired on the European art market. [No Reserve]. Fine condition.
Lot 345
3rd century AD. A bronze box with sliding lid and fastener containing a group of twenty seven bronze coins of mainly 3rd century date, Tetricus II and Quintillus. 124 grams, 65mm (2 1/2"). From an important Spanish collection; accompanied by a copy of the Spanish export permit. [28]. Fine 'as found' condition.
Lot 1840
17th century AD. A bronze expanding hoop with stepped shoulders, octagonal bezel with high-relief portrait thought to be the bust of Charles I. Cf. Oman, C.C. British Rings 800-1914, London, 1974, plate 80(D"). 8.58 grams, 23mm overall, 20.26mm internal diameter (approximate size British U 1/2, USA 10 1/2, Europe 23.59, Japan 22) (1"). From an important London collection, acquired in the 1990s. [No Reserve]. Fine condition, hoop cracked.
Lot 1758
15th-17th century AD. A group of bronze scallop shells of St James, one with suspension ring to the back, the other with two curling projections to the sides, pierced for attachment. 13 grams total, 21-30mm (3/4 - 1 1/4"). Property of a Middlesex gentleman; acquired in the 1980s. [2, No Reserve]. Fine condition.
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