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Click here to subscribe14th century AD. A bronze bell-shaped vessel with radiating loop and studs to the rim; reserved parcel-gilt calligraphic text on a patterned field with rosettes below. 1.7 kg, 14.5cm high (5 3/4"). The property of a German gentleman; acquired 1980s-early 1990s. Cf. von Gladiss, A. Glanz und Substanz. Metallarbeitung in der Sammlung des Museums für Islamische Kunst, Berlin, 2012, item 68 for type. Fair condition; base absent.
17th-18th century AD or later. A gilt bronze figure of Avalokiteshvara standing on a lotus flower, flowing robes around the waist and legs, right hand held up in Abhya Mudra, left holding an open lotus flower; sash around shoulders; head with central Buddha image on the crown. 3 kg, 32cm (12 1/2"). Private collection, North London; acquired in the early 1990s. Fine condition.
17th-18th century AD. A bronze magic bowl with raised boss in the centre, wide foot to the base; geometric pattern to the inside with Koranic inscriptions over the surface; outside with roundels and entire surface covered with inscriptions from the Koran. 463 grams, 19.5cm (7 3/4"). Property of a German gentleman; acquired before 1989. Fine condition. [No Reserve]
10th-11th century AD. A bronze pendant comprising a triangular panel with ribbed and zigzag bars, chains to the lower edge each with a duck-foot finial; Baltic workmanship. 109 grams, 18cm (7"). Property of a gentleman; acquired before 1990. Cf. Sedov, B.B. Finno-Ugri i Balti v Epokhi Srednevekovija, Moscow, 1987, plates XXIX, XXX, XXXV. Fine condition, loop absent. [No Reserve]
14th-15th century AD. A pair of finger rings comprising: one silver with facetted hoop, hexagonal plaque with pelleted border, hatched capital 'R'; one bronze with flat-section hoop, stepped shoulders, octagonal bezel with hatched capital 'R'. 15 grams total, 26mm (1"). Property of a European gentleman living in the UK; formerly in a private collection formed in the 1990s. Very fine condition. Large wearable sizes. [2]
10th-12th century AD. A pair of bronze finger rings comprising: a broad flat-section hoop with geometric detailing, octagonal plaque with radiating shapes; a D-section hoop with ellipsoid plaque, reserved star on a textured field. 16 grams total, 22-24mm (1"). Property of a London, UK collector; acquired London market, 1990s. Very fine condition. [2, No Reserve]
12th-15th century AD. A D-section flat bronze hoop enclosing a discoid plaque with incised pentagram. 4.21 grams, 22.03 overall, 19.51mm internal diameter (approximate size British T, USA 9 3/4, Europe 21.26, Japan 20"). (1"). Property of a London gentleman; acquired before 1995. The pentagram was used in ancient times as a Christian symbol for the five wounds of Christ. In the medieval period it was recognised as the Seal of Solomon and occurs in the 14th-century English poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, in which the symbol decorates the shield of the hero, Gawain. Fine condition. [No Reserve]
14th century AD. A large enamelled bronze bifacial horse-harness banneret with lozengiform plaque and lateral ring; the heraldic design blazoned 'Azure a lion rampant gardant or', a variant of the arms of the Neville family. 45 grams, 67mm (2 3/4"). Found Hampshire, UK. The arms of the Neville family are 'Azure a lion rampant or', of which the present heraldry appears to be a variant with the lion facing the viewer. The lozenge-shaped banneret denoted a female bearer of the arms. Fine condition.
12th century AD. A squat bronze bowl with inclined sidewall and thick, chamfered rim; to the inner face, a band of reserved text on a hatched field enclosing an ibex and vegetation; running guilloche band to the rim, reserved text to the sidewall; to the underside, a band of reserved scrolled foliage on a hatched field, scrolls and concentric rings surrounding a rosette. 607 grams, 18cm (7"). Property of a retired London collector; acquired before 1990. Cf. von Gladiss, A. Glanz und Substanz. Metallarbeitung in der Sammlung des Museums für Islamische Kunst, Berlin, 2012, item 43 for similar design. Fine condition.
11th-12th century AD. A bronze censer or staff top in the form of a short socket pierced for attachment; top a dome shape with openwork equal armed crosses with bosses between each cross forming a matrix pattern. 18 grams, 50mm (2"). Property of a West Yorkshire lady; previously in the Brian Riley collection, Yorkshire, UK, 2007. Fair condition. [No Reserve]
1st-3rd century AD. A bronze mount in the form of the god Jupiter-Ammon depicted as a bearded male head with ram's horns curving round the ears; mounted on a custom-made stand. 2.3 grams, 10.5cm including stand (4 1/4"). Property of a West Yorkshire lady; acquired at auction in 2008; previously with Gorny & Mosch, Munich, Germany. Fine condition. [No Reserve]
12th-14th century AD. A bronze vessel with collared rim with long thin neck below; flat shoulder with rosette decoration and globular body with flaring base; handle to the rim and with standing bird at top. 241 grams, 14cm (5 1/2"). From an old German collection; acquired before 1990. Fine condition. [No Reserve]
5th-7th century AD. A tail end to a bronze brooch with scrolling dragon heads either side of a fan tail axe-shape, pierced for suspension. 12 grams, 35mm (1 3/4"). Property of a West Yorkshire lady; from the private collection of John Moor, Brigantia Antiquities, York, UK, 2008; acquired by John Moore in the 1980s. Fine condition. [No Reserve]
6th-7th century AD. A set of three bronze hanging bowl mounts with suspension rings, each a slightly domed discoid plaque with four keyhole voids, a D-section hook with discoid stud at the base, beast-head detailing to the finial with longitudinal ribbing for the mane, D-shaped ears and stepped inner face for the mouth; the mounts each with the original thin (0.3mm"). wall of the bowl to which they were attached; supplied with the base of the bowl and fragments of the rim; suitable for sympathetic remounting and display. 221 grams total, mounts: 54-56mm (2 1/4"). Fine condition. [6] Found Suffolk, UK. See Pollington, S., Kerr, L. & Hammond, B. Wayland's Work: Anglo-Saxon Art, Myth & Material Culture from the 4th to 7th century, Ely, 2010, p.279-80. Pollington, S., Kerr, L. & Hammond, B. Wayland's Work: Anglo-Saxon Art, Myth & Material Culture from the 4th to 7th century, Ely, 2010, plate 56. Large bronze hanging bowls appear in wealthy Anglo-Saxon graves in the 6th and 7th century. They are not substantial enough to have been used for preparing food over an open fire. They usually have three suspension hooks on the rim which suggests that they were hung on chains from a beam in the hall. It is likely that they were used for the ostentatious serving of drink (wine, beer or mead) on ceremonial occasions.
1st century AD. A bronze discoid mount with gusset and loop to the reverse, raised central boss with incuse triskele motif. 8.57 grams, 24mm (1"). From an old Hampshire collection; found near Chichester, West Sussex, UK, in 1992, recorded with Chichester Museum. Cf. Allason-Jones, L. & Miket, R. The Catalogue of Small Finds from South Shields Roman Fort, Newcastle, 1984, item 3.6 for type. Fine condition. [No Reserve]
1st century BC-1st century AD. A Roman copy of a Hellenistic bronze winged nude Cupid statuette with fine facial detailing, the hair gathered in a knot above the forehead, raised right arm holding a torch, left arm extended to the rear, the legs in a running pose. 124 grams, 80mm (3"). Fine condition, left foot and right wing absent, torch broken. Ex V.C. Vecchi and Sons Ltd., Great Smith Street, London, 1971-1985. Cf. Rolland, H. Bronzes Antiques de Haute Provence, Paris, 1965, item 116; Durham, E. Metal Figurines in Roman Britain, volume 2, 2010, plate 36, Cupid 697. Eros/Cupid is frequently depicted holding a torch. He is sometimes shown extinguishing the flame, which in later representations on Roman sarcophagi most likely alludes to death. In some cases, the burning torch may also symbolise ardent desire and burning love. Such pieces could also have acted as decorative supports for oil lamps, as seen in examples from Pompeii.
1st century BC-1st century AD. A bronze bust of Jupiter, bearded and with a diadem to the hair, modelled in the half-round. 23 grams, 34mm (1 1/2"). Property of a London, UK collector; acquired London market, 1990s. Cf. Rolland, H. Bronzes Antiques de Haute Provence, Paris, 1965, items 6, 11. Fine condition. [No Reserve]
9th-12th century AD. A hollow-formed bronze animal figure with gaping mouth, band of annulets to the head, tail and lower edge of the body, links with pendant rumbler bell; Baltic workmanship. 31 grams, 86mm (3 1/2"). Property of a gentleman; acquired before 1990. Cf. Sedov, B.B. Finno-Ugri i Balti v Epokhi Srednevekovija, Moscow, 1987, plate LXV for type. Fine condition. [No Reserve]
9th-14th century AD. A mixed bronze group comprising: a billeted strip with raven-head finial; a scooped panel with opposed bird heads; a plaque with addorsed bird heads; a pendant cosmetic spoon with ram-head handle. 25 grams total, 31-60mm (1 1/4 - 2 1/2"). Acquired on the German art market in the 1990s. Fine condition. [4, No Reserve]
Late 3rd millennium BC. An Early Bronze Age copper flat axe of rectangular section, tapered from a narrow squared butt to slightly convex cutting edge. 152 grams, 15.5cm (6"). Property of a gentleman; found Cirencester, Gloucestershire, UK, 1990. See Savoury, H. N., Guide Catalogue of the Bronze Age Collections, National Museum of Wales, 1980, fig.17 for similar examples. Very fine condition.
12th century AD. A bronze barrel key with elongated flat-section bow, rectangular lateral bit with two slots and raised border. 18 grams, 67mm (2 3/4"). Found East Langdon, Kent, UK. Recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme with reference number KENT-845F6B; accompanied by a print out of the PAS report. Fine condition. [No Reserve]
5th-6th century AD. A bronze pendant with engraved image of a 4th century Roman emperor facing left with long tiers of hair and wearing armour, radiating lines to the edges and domed to the back; suspension ring to the top. 11 grams, 27mm (1"). Property of a Surrey collector; acquired in the early 1970s. Fine condition.
3rd-5th century AD. A large bronze Kiev culture openwork roundel with cross in the centre with zigzag pattern; to the edges four curving claw shapes, two filled with white and red enamel; two suspension loops to the rear. 31.57 grams, 60mm (2 1/4"). Acquired on the German art market in the 1990s. The Kiev archaeological culture was located in the basin of the rivers Dnieper and Visla; between the 3rd and 5th centuries; archaeologists connect this culture with historical ancestors of the Slavs. However, there are suggestions that in different regions of the Kiev culture ethnogenetic processes were not the same. In some cases, the Slavic component prevailed, whilst Baltic and others were dominant elsewhere. Very fine condition. [No Reserve]
1st-3rd century AD. A bronze discoid plaque with three fixing points, raised mask of a lion with fur texture, sides of the mouth open to accept a bronze ring; provincial workmanship; mounted on a custom-made stand. 386 grams, 18cm including stand (7"). Property of a Gloucester gentleman; previously in an old Sussex collection. Very fine condition. [No Reserve]
9th-11th century AD. A mixed group of bronze pendants comprising: one gilt, a beaded ring; one an omega-shaped ropework loop; one discoid with expanding-arm cross; one discoid with openwork cross pommy and beaded border; one a ring and cross with lobes to the outer edge. 20 grams total, 24-38mm (1 - 1 1/2"). Acquired on the German art market in the 1990s. Fine condition. [5, No Reserve]
2nd-4th century AD. A bronze peltiform chape with lateral scrolls to each face, median vertical band with trefoil finial; attachment holes to both faces. 55 grams, 62mm (2 1/2"). Private collection, North London; acquired in the early 1990s. Cf. Chapman, E.M. A Catalogue of Roman Military Equipment in the National Museum of Wales, BAR British Series no.388, Oxford, 2005, item Bb01. Fine condition.
2nd-1st century BC. A sheet bronze rhyton finial of a ram's head with ribbed horns, fur texture to the throat and neck; mounted on a custom-made stand. 263 grams, 15.5cm including stand (6"). Property of a Gloucester gentleman; previously in a London private collection. Cf. for similar in silver see Brooklyn Museum, acc no. 1998.188.1, and Museum of Fine Arts Boston, acc. no.64.2075 Fair condition. [No Reserve]
8th-12th century AD. A bronze brooch in the form of a flying raven with fan tail, short wings and large, hooked beak; interlace decoration to the body; remains of pin and catch plate to the rear. 3.86 grams, 36mm (1 1/2"). Property of a West Yorkshire lady; from the private collection of John Moor, Brigantia Antiquities, York, UK, 2008; acquired by John Moore in the 1980s. Fine condition.
7th-1st century BC. A bronze lunate shaped fitting with defined ridge to the top, flat body with incised triangles; bar across the top for attachment. 26 grams, 50mm (2"). Property of a West Yorkshire lady; previously in the Brian Riley collection, Yorkshire, UK; 2007. Fine condition. [No Reserve]
13th-16th century AD. A mixed group of bronze bells comprising: one with flared rim, pierced lug, balustered clapper, saltires to the dome; one squat with ring, ribbed clapper; one tall with openwork ribbed dome, everted rim, clubbed clapper; one with stepped frame, dome with ring, clubbed clapper. 184 grams total, 36-48mm (1 1/2 - 2"). Private collection, Cambridgeshire, UK; acquired prior to 2000. Very fine condition. [4]
9th-12th century AD. A mixed group of bronze bracelets comprising: one flat-section with animal-head terminals; one penannular with butted ends, ring-and-dot detailing, coiled wire to the shank; one D-section bangle. 39 grams total, 53-60mm (2 - 2 1/2"). Property of an American collector; acquired 1980-2000. Fine condition. [3, No Reserve]
1st millennium BC. A bronze finial comprising a tubular bulb with ribbed collar, narrow columnar shaft surmounted by a bifacial Master of Animals figurine formed as two lions on hindlegs. 234 grams, 11cm (4 1/4"). Property of a French gentleman living in London; formerly in a European collection; acquired prior to 1981. Fine condition.
14th century AD. A gilt bronze shield-shaped, horse harness pendant emblazoned with the arms of Sir Walter de Sarnesfield, an eagle with wings outspread with blue enamel around; suspension loop to the top. 7.30 grams, 36mm (1 1/2"). Found Norfolk, UK, 2014. During the mid 14th century Walter's son Nicholas de Sarnesfield served with Edward prince of Wales, also known as the Black Prince, as one of his retainers and loyal knights. In 1386 he was made a Knight of the Garter by King Richard II through the gratitude of serving his late father (who had died ten years earlier). Sir Nicholas had a slight change to the arms, having a silver crown on the eagles head - symbolic to his serving the king as the royal standard bearer. Very fine condition. [No Reserve]
8th-12th century AD. A bronze weight, hexagonal in plan with silver-inlaid cross to one broad face, incised nimbate bust to the other with cross motifs on the tunic, silver-inlaid face with beard. 32 grams, 21mm (3/4"). Property of a Surrey collector; acquired in the early 1970s. See discussion in Weber, K. Byzantinische Münzgewichte: Materialkorpus für 1-Nomisma-Gewichte, Schwelm, 2009. Very fine condition, cleaned and conserved.
12th-14th century AD. A mixed group of gilt-bronze and bronze mounts comprising: a strap end with bovine face, ball and shank extension; an appliqué with beaded mask; a lion-head appliqué; an ovoid mask appliqué; a lion mask with hatched openwork plaque; a pendant mask with stud to the reverse. 25 grams total, 16-65mm (3/4 - 2 3/4"). Property of a German gentleman; acquired on the European art market in the 1990s. Fine condition. [6, No Reserve]
1st-2nd century AD. A bronze brooch in the shape of a fish with hatching to the body to represent scales, borders filled with red enamel; part of pin and catch plate to the reverse. 3.95 grams, 45mm (1 3/4"). Property of a West Yorkshire lady; acquired at auction in 2008. Fine condition. [No Reserve]
3rd century BC. A dagger and sheath with suspension fittings; the bronze sheath with decorated bands, raised panels with repoussé and punched-point detailing, discoid chape with central knop, lateral loops with attached sliding rings attached to D-shaped strap ends; the iron blade within the sheath, iron tang extending from a tiered lower guard to the rectangular pommel with three poppy-head finials; possibly Villanovan workmanship. 312 grams, 31.5cm (12 1/2"). From an important English collection; acquired in the 1990s. Cf. Capwell, Dr. T. Knives, Daggers and Bayonets, London, 2009, p.21. The pugio was a dagger used by Roman soldiers as a sidearm. It seems likely that the pugio was intended as an auxiliary weapon for the soldiers but officials of the empire also took to wearing ornate daggers in the performance of their offices, and some would wear concealed daggers as a defence against contingencies. The dagger was a common weapon of assassination and suicide; for example, the conspirators who stabbed Julius Caesar used pugiones. References to the pugio are common in the literature of the Empire, especially in Tacitus and Suetonius. Tacitus reports that Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo had a soldier executed for not wearing a sword while digging a trench and another for wearing only a pugio in the same activity. This does not mean however, that the pugio was carried universally and a study of 1st century AD figural tombstones reveals that there were certainly soldiers who did not carry the pugio. It is not known whether it was simply an optional weapon or if it was issued only to soldiers with certain duties and not to soldiers who were not seen to need it. The evidence of a preserved 1st century AD writing tablet also reveals that some cavalrymen carried the pugio. Fine condition.
Ordos, 6th-2nd century AD. A gilt bronze domed weight, top in the shape of a reclining lion with undulating hill design to the sides. 290 grams, 60mm (2 1/4"). Property of an Essex collector; acquired Bonhams, San Francisco, USA; 10 March 2015, sale 22378, lot 8247 (part). Fine condition. [No Reserve]
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