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Click here to subscribe19th-20th century AD. A hollow-formed gilt-bronze figurine of Avalokiteshvara sitting cross-legged on a lotus-flower dais, with ribbons passing round the eight arms and three heads wearing crowns with scrolled floral panels. 28 kg, 67cm (26 1/2"). From an important London collection, acquired in the 1990s. Fine condition, one lateral ribbon repaired.
19th-20th century AD. A tiered rectangular bronze base with figure of Buddha with hands pressed together sitting cross-legged on a dais beneath a canopy of seven headed naga serpent, five similar figures below and seven more on the lower tier; discoid offering bowl to the forward edge, hollow to the underside. 3.5 kg, 26cm (10 1/4"). From the Cheuk family collection; acquired before 1990. The piece is a three dimensional representation of a mandala, representing the cosmic realm of the Buddha. Such objects are used as tools in meditation where the practitioner would contemplate each of the figures and their relevance at each tier of the Buddhist cosmos. Each Bodhisattva would represent a different level of mental perfection that the aspirant would meditate upon, with the Buddha at the top representing the purest and most perfect form to be achieved. Good condition.
18th-19th century AD. A bronze incense burner comprising a squat bowl with tripod legs and domed lid; the shoulder with high-relief dragons, each leg issuing from a facing mask, two lateral loop handles with hooks and bull-head detailing, square signature block to the underside; the lid with openwork frieze to the outer edge, handle formed as a crouching dog. 709 grams, 14cm (5 1/2"). Fine condition. Property of a gentleman; acquired in the 1970s.
19th century AD. A square bronze chop seal with open sides, scroll detailing, pair of mating cockerel and hen modelled in the round to the upper face, four characters to the underside. 131 grams, 53mm (2"). Fine condition. Property of a North London gentleman; formerly with a Mayfair gallery in the 1980s.
19th century AD. A rectangular bronze chop seal with open sides, model of a scholar seated cross-legged on the back of a baby elephant with partly-unrolled scroll on his lap; six characters to the underside. 250 grams, 89mm (3 3/4"). Fine condition. Property of a North London gentleman; formerly with a Mayfair gallery in the 1980s.
15th-18th century AD. A group of two bronze items comprising: a flat-section plaque with loop to the reverse, crowned monkey with serpent and palmette below; a standing nude figure on a square base, hands held to the chest, stud and flared wings with holes to the reverse. 89 grams total, 53-61mm (2 - 2 1/2"). Fine condition. London gentleman; acquired before 1970.
2nd-4th century AD. A hemispherical bronze bowl with with ring-and-dot rosette to the inner face, bands of ring-and-dot motifs to the underside connected by linear lozenges. 944 grams, 24.5cm (9 3/4"). Fine condition, cleaned, usage wear. From the collection of a North London gentleman; acquired in the 1980s.
5th-10th century AD. A bronze anthropomorphic plaque depicting a nude standing male with discoid head, angular limbs and body, incised slit detail to the shoulders, nose and eyes, ribbed hair, phallus or tail from a costume between the legs. 6.73 grams, 47mm (1 3/4"). Property of a London businessman, from his grandfather's collection formed after World War II; thence by descent 1972. Cf. Sedov, B.B. Finno-Ugri i Balti v Epokhi Srednevekovija, Moscow, 1987, plate XCVII. [No Reserve] Fine condition.
7th century AD. A large openwork bronze bow brooch comprising a D-shaped headplate with lateral horse-head extensions and lobe above, shallow bow with chevrons to each and, lateral horse-head lappets connected to those above by tendrils with spurs extending beside the footplate, shield-shaped footplate with lobe terminal; pin-lugs and pin to the reverse, catch absent. 50 grams, 12.5cm (5"). Property of a London businessman, from his grandfather's collection formed after World War II; thence by descent 1972. Cf. Menghin, W. The Merovingian Period. Europe Without Borders, Berlin, 2007, item III.20.4. [No Reserve] Fine condition.
5th century AD. A pair of bronze plate brooches comprising: one with central boss, discoid plaque with radiating segments, punched pellets to the border, two pairs of opposed bird-heads with pointille collars, pin-lug, spring, pin and catch to the reverse; a similar plaque with central garnet cabochon, pin removed and iron suspension fitting added. 17 grams total, 33-40mm (1 1/4 - 1 3/4"). Property of a Surrey collector; acquired in the early 1970s. [2] Very fine condition.
6th century AD. A matched pair of bronze bow brooches, each a D-shaped headplate with three radiating lobes, deep bow, triangular footplate with lateral lobes, ribbed finial; panels of zigzag ornament to the headplate and footplate, in-lug and catchplate to the reverse, one with ferrous remains of the pin. 52 grams total, 97-98mm (4"). Property of a Lancashire collector; acquired on the UK art market. Cf. Menghin, W. The Merovingian Period. Europe Without Borders, Berlin, 2007, item IX.6.5. [2] Fine condition.
6th century AD. A bronze miniature bow brooch with D-shaped headplate and five radiating knops, shallow ribbed bow, triangular footplate with bird-head lappets, beast-head finial; spring, pin and catchplate to the reverse. 7.85 grams, 48mm (2"). UK art market, acquired prior to 2000. Cf. Hattatt, R. Brooches of Antiquity, Oxford, 1987, item 1319. Fine condition.
10th century AD. A bronze equal-arm bow brooch comprising two discoid plaques each with beaded borders and trapezoidal extension, connected by a triangular-section bow; pin-lugs and catchplate to the reverse. 24 grams, 87mm (3 1/2"). Property of a London businessman, from his grandfather's collection formed after World War II; thence by descent 1972. Cf. Beck, H. et al. Fibel und Fibeltracht, Berlin, 2000, fig.176(19"). [No Reserve] Fine condition.
5th century AD. A bronze buckle with round-section D-shaped loop, D-section triangular tongue, kidney-shaped plaque with three cabochon garnets. 21 grams, 39mm (1 1/2"). From a Surrey collection; formed between 1990-2000. Cf. Menghin, W. The Merovingian Period. Europe Without Borders, Berlin, 2007, item I.9.1.1 for type. [No Reserve] Very fine condition.
5th century AD. A bronze buckle set comprising: a kidney-shaped loop with opposed beast-heads to the outer edge; flat-section tongue; split strap riveted to the plate, an octagonal plaque with scalloped sides, pierced lug to each angle, central disc with two s-scrolled motifs. 23 grams, 68mm (2 3/4"). Property of a Surrey collector; acquired in the early 1970s. Fine condition.
7th-9th century AD. A flat-section bronze scaphoid bifacial pendant with integral loop, to one face, a serpent rectangular frame and geometric marks; to the other a nimbate horseman with banner, Greek legend surrounding. 9.99 grams, 67mm (2 3/4"). Property of a London gentleman; acquired before 1970. Fine condition.
8th-10th century AD. A pair of bronze polyhedral weights with stamped decoration of a ring-and-dot motif and a bar with three pellets. 30 grams total, 13mm (1/2"). Property of a London gentleman; acquired before 1970. Cf. Weber, K. Byzantinische Münzgewichte: Materialkorpus für 1-Nomisma-Gewichte, Schwelm, 2009, item 317. [2] Very fine condition.
9th-11th century AD. A group of mixed items consisting of a bronze head of a dragon, possibly from a bracelet; a gilt bronze D-shaped strap end with palm motif; a bronze kidney shaped buckle with belt plate; a silver Samanid Dynasty coin with attached silver suspension ring. 32 grams total, 23-30mm (1-1 1/4"). [4, No Reserve] Fine condition. From a private Austrian collector; acquired in the 1980s.
10th-11th century AD. A bronze bracelet formed as a D-section band coiled in five loops, tapered finials and bands of punched-point ornament. 98 grams, 70mm (2 3/4"). Fine condition. From a Cambridgeshire collection; acquired in the 1970s. Cf. Griciuviene, E. Seliai. The Selonians, Vilnius, 2007, items 665, 666.
9th-11th century AD. A mixed group of bronze rings comprising: one with faux-twisted upper section; one penannular with faux-twist; one with faux-braided bezel. 13 grams total, 23-26mm (1").[3, No Reserve] Fine condition. Property of a London businessman, from his grandfather's collection formed after World War II; thence by descent 1972.
9th-11th century AD. A mixed group of bronze finger rings comprising: two with faux-twist to the upper section; one with faux-braid. 24 grams total, 26-30mm (1 - 1 1/4").[3, No Reserve] Fine condition. Property of a London businessman, from his grandfather's collection formed after World War II; thence by descent 1972.
9th-11th century AD. A large bronze penannular brooch with square head terminals decorated with circular pattern, body of brooch decorated with beaded border; round-section pin coiled around the shank. 156 grams, 90mm (3 1/2").[No Reserve] Fine condition. Property of an American collector; acquired 1980-2000.
11th century AD. A bronze openwork mount formed as a mesh of fine tendrils and zoomorphic body, beast-head gripping the outer edge. 12 grams, 47mm (1 3/4"). Fair condition. Found near Winteringham, Humberside, UK; in 1988. Cf. Hammond, B. British Artefacts vol.3 - Late Saxon, Late Viking & Norman, Witham, 2013, item 1.6-m for type.
9th-11th century AD. A D-shaped domed bronze mount with scrolled owl-face motif, concentric rings to the eyes, four mounting lugs to the reverse. 12 grams, 31mm (1 1/4"). Very fine condition, small casting flaw. Property of a London businessman, from his grandfather's collection formed after World War II; thence by descent 1972.
10th-15th century AD. A mixed group of bronze items comprising: a facing wolf mask; an openwork floral swag with bird above; a profile bird; a beast with arched neck and vegetation; a bear's head with open jaws. 106 grams total, 16-74mm (3/4 - 3"). [5, No Reserve] Fine condition. Property of a German collector; acquired in the 1990s.
9th-11th century AD. A group of bronze rectangular belt plates with lobe and socket on the shorter edges, a round openwork plate with central rosette with four radiating bars. 31 grams, 22-28mm (3/4 - 1"). [5, No Reserve] Fine condition. Property of an American collector; acquired 1980-2000.
10th-12th century AD. A pair of bronze tubular finials with zoomorphic detailing, one a raven with hooked beak, the other a dragon(?) with open mouth, loop to the brow. 35 grams total, 35-41mm (1 1/2 - 1 3/4"). [2, No Reserve] Fine condition. Property of a German collector; acquired in the 1990s.
9th-12th century AD. A flat-section bronze plaque of an advancing horse and rider in profile with arms formed as loops, holding a spear horizontally. 2.83 grams, 30mm (1 1/4"). [No Reserve] Fine condition. Property of a London businessman, from his grandfather's collection formed after World War II; thence by descent 1972. Cf. Sedov, B.B. Finno-Ugri i Balti v Epokhi Srednevekovija, Moscow, 1987, plate LI, item 5.
9th-12th century AD. A pair of gilt-bronze discoid pendants, each with raised rim and integral loop, central boss with beaded collar, ring of smaller bosses surrounding. 15 grams total, 34-35mm (1 1/2"). [2, No Reserve] Very fine condition. From an old Munich collection; acquired on the German art market before 2000.
11th-12th century AD. A pair of bronze axehead pendants each with a winged socket, triangular pierced blade and spur to the inner edge, with punched point ornament to both faces of the blade. 31 grams, 53mm (2"). [2, No Reserve] Very fine condition. Property of a German collector; acquired in the 1990s.
9th-12th century AD. A group of bronze lunate pendants comprising: two flat-section crescents; a crescent with flared finials; an omega-shaped plaque with central hole; a crescent with faux-granule detailing; one similar with cross to the inner edge. 21 grams total, 16-29mm (3/4 - 1 1/4"). [6, No Reserve] Fine condition. From an old Munich collection; acquired on the German art market before 2000. Cf. Kolchin, B.A. and Makarova, T.I. Drevnyaya Rus', Byt i kultura, Moscow, 1997, plate 92, item 6.
10th-12th century AD. A pair of bronze disc pendants, one with border of raised dots, centre with central boss surrounded by raised dots; one with border of scrolled pelta pattern and centre with three joined pelta; each with a large suspension loop. 16 grams total, 26-30mm (1/2"). [2, No Reserve] Fine condition. Property of an American collector; acquired 1980-2000.
9th-12th century AD. A mixed group of bronze pendants comprising: a bifacial bird with pierced lug; a wolf mask, hollow to the reverse; a sword pierced on the blade. 12 grams total, 19-29mm (3/4 - 1 1/4"). [3, No Reserve] Fine condition. Property of a German collector; acquired in the 1990s.
10th-13th century AD. A mixed bronze group comprising: a buckle with round-section loop, D-section tongue and triangular plaque; a discoid pendant with openwork cross; a basket pendant. 32 grams total, 16-52mm (3/4 - 2"). [3, No Reserve] Fine condition. From an old Munich collection; acquired on the German art market before 2000.
9th-12th century AD. A group of three bronze weights consisting of two round with flattened top and bottom; an eye-shaped weight with eye lids and detailing to the eye ball. 47 grams total, 15-27mm (3/4-1 1/4"). [3, No Reserve] Fair condition. From a private Austrian collector; acquired in the 1980s.
3000-2334 BC. A large lapis lazuli cylinder seal with bronze axle in situ, frieze with standing robed female surrounded by opposed pairs of animals, winged disc and anthropomorphs with animal legs. 49 grams, 62mm (2 1/2"). Fine condition. Property of a London gentleman; acquired before 1970. Cf. Collon, D. First Impressions. Cylinder Seals in the Ancient Near East, London, 2005. Fine condition.
4th-2nd millennium BC. A drum-shaped bronze cylinder seal with recurved holes only to the upper face, intaglio design with human figure flanked by pellets and horizontal line with six transverse strokes, one end forked and the other curved upwards. 12 grams, 14mm (1/2"). Fine condition, worn. Ex Rihani family collection; acquired 1980s. Cf. Collon, D. First Impressions. Cylinder Seals in the Ancient Near East, London, 2005, item 64.
1125-1103 BC. A bronze axehead formed as a tubular socket with four moulded ribs projecting to the rear to form four conical spikes, a tongue-shaped flat blade slightly pressed in the upper and lower border with incised cuneiform inscription; accompanied by an old scholarly note, typed and signed by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: Ancient Inscribed Bronze Axehead naming a King of Babylon. Maximum height: 5 cm, Maximum length: 14.8 cm. the centre of this axehead is round, with hole for the shaft. On the opposite side from the blade are four spikes, joined for greater strength about half-way between the points and the shaft-hole. Each spike continues as a ridge of metal around the shaft-hole, the lower forming a circle, the upper three continuing on the opposite side from the spikes onto the blade. This has an upper edge continuing the angle of the spikes, but the lower edge goes downwards to the cutting edge, which is thus deeper than the opposite end of the blade. Originally the blade was deeper that it is now: the upper and lower edges have been hammered to give the blade more strength by thickening the edges. This happened since manufacture because the inscription has been in part obliterated by this hammering. The inscription is in Babylonian cuneiform and reads: te-le-'-?ama[r-utu] [m]ut-nen-na-a e-te?-[ra] [m]uš-te-'-ú aš-ra-ti-[ka] [..........] x du-un-nin i-di-ia-m[a] [lu]-šam-qí-ta ge-ri-ia [ša] ?nabû-ku-dúr-ri-usur lugal šár: You are able, Marduk, to save the pious who seeks after your shrines, [........].Strengthen my arms that I may fell my foes. [Property of] Nebuchadnezzar, king of the world. This is a prayer to the Babylonian god Marduk, with ownership ascription. The Nebuchadnezzar named is Nebuchadnezzar I, king of Babylon 1125-1103 B.C., not the Nebuchadnezzar II known from the Bible. The inscription begins on one side of the blade and is completed on the other side. Another axehead of the same type formerly in the Foroughi Collection has the same inscription, though complete, see G.Dossin, in Iranica Antiquea II (1962) pl. xxiv. Both these axeheads were apparently found in Iran, but the inscription is purely Babylonian. How such Babylonian inscriptions came to be found in Iran is a debated issue. It may be that such texts were copied onto bronze objects made in Iran, but in any case their date is close to that of kings named. This is then an important axehead naming a major king of Babylon. A later note of prof. Lamber completes the translation: te-le-'-?ama[r-utu] [m]ut-nen-na-a e-te?-[ra] [m]uš-te-'-ú aš-ra-ti-[ka] [eli n] a-ki-ri šu-zu-uz-zu [i-zi-q]a ša-ra-ka a-si-' n[a-ak]-ri-ia du-un-nin kak-ki-ia-ma lu-ú-di-ša ge-ri-[ia] ša ?ná-[ku]-dúr-ri-ÚRU lugal šár: You are able, O Marduk,to make prevail over enemies the devout noble who ever seeks your sanctuaries. Your spirit has [blown], destroy (?) my enemies, strengthen my arms that I may tresh [my] foes. Property of Nebuchadnezzar, king of the world. This is Nebuchadnezzar I, king of Babylon 1125-1103 B.C. Another copy of this inscription on the same type of axehead exists in the former Foroughi Collection and was published by G.Dossin in Iranica Antiqua II (1962) p.158 and pl. xxiv. The inscription there is a little better preserved, and one can note one difference: this axehead under study writes du-un-nin, while the Foroughi example writes du-un-ni-in, proving that the one was not copied mechanically from the other. Some one involved understood the writing. This axehead comes from Luristan and probably dates from a little later than the reign of Nebuchadnezzar I, the inscription having been copied in Iran from an object with this inscription made in Babylon, but circulating in Iran. Generally this object is in good state of preservation, though there is some corrosion of the inscription, and the blade has been sharpened recently. 243 grams, 14.8cm (5 3/4"). Fine condition, extremely rare. From a London, UK, collection; acquired 1970s. Accompanied by an Art Loss Register certificate. Nebuchadnezzar I., r. c. 1125-1104 BC, was the fourth king of the Second Dynasty of Isin and Fourth Dynasty of Babylon. He ruled for 22 years according to the Babylonian King List C, and was the most prominent monarch of this dynasty. He is best known for his victory over Elam and the recovery of the cultic idol of Marduk.
5th-3rd century BC. A bronze square pedestal with tapering sides, the front decorated with a projecting bull's head with fan tailed headdress above. 2 kg, 10 x 16 x 13cm (3 3/4 x 6 x 5 3/4"). Very fine condition. Property of a gentleman; from a Mayfair, London, UK, gallery. The piece was possibly used as a small altar within a temple for the burning of incense, or offerings being placed on it. The bull was a significant animal in South Arabian religion and was associated with the moon god Hubal.
2nd-1st millennium BC. A bronze statuette of a standing female with prominent nose and large eyes, wearing a close fitting dress, with arms extended forward, flat round cap on the top of the head with ponytail falling down the back. 49 grams, 93mm (3 3/4"). Very fine condition. Property of a London gentleman; acquired in the late 1970s and 1980s.
2nd millennium BC. A bronze figurine of the goddess Athtart (Greek Astarte) standing nude with carefully dressed hair, hands cupping the breasts, collar to the neck with extension to the rear. 76 grams, 91mm (3 3/4").[No Reserve;waist repaired, feet absent. Property of an American collector; ex Ron Nasser, New York; previously with BC Galleries, Australia.
1st millennium BC. A large and ornate openwork cast bronze plaque or mount depicting, to the centre, an anthropomorphic figure with shoulder-length hair and downturned mouth, wearing a tunic and trousers; above the head, a disc with human facial features, flanked by small anthropomorphs; the central figure's feet claw-like, standing on the bodies of two long-necked dragons; the arms outstretched, with fringed sleeves, a staff in each hand; to the reverse, two loops for attachment. 181 grams, 17cm (6 1/2"). Very fine condition [No Reserve] Property of a Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK collector; formerly in a Russian private collection, formed in the 1950s. See Rieff Anawalt, P. Shamanic Regalia in the Far North, London, 2014. Objects such as these were created by the Finno-Ugric peoples who inhabited the north-east of Russia during the Iron Age. The culture is notable for its metal sculptures from the Kama valley, dated to the first millennium BC, and on the basis of the zoomorphic motifs used on these sculptures all the artefacts in the collection are classified as Perm or Kama Animal Style. The pieces were created for use by shamans who acted as healers and wise men, and women, for the community. The iconography of the pieces relate to the spirit world that the shaman entered during ceremonies.
1st millennium BC. A hollow-formed bronze looped serpent figure with scale detailing, open mouth with tongue protruding; provincial Greek workmanship. 500 grams, 29cm (11 1/2"). Fine condition. Property of a North London gentleman; formerly with a Mayfair gallery in the 1980s. The representation of snakes occurs from a number of Mesopotamian civilisations and, as with many animals, they carry a symbolic and religious meaning and are often associated with both gods and goddesses. The snake god Nirah was worshipped at the city of Der, located on the northern border between Mesopotamia and Elam, where he was considered to be the minister of Ishtaran, chief deity of the city.
3rd-1st century BC. A bronze disc with repousse detail of a central facing mask with ropework border supported on a leafy stem, flanked by opposed pairs of running goats(?) each with a crouching human to the rear, fifth advancing horse between with rosette above, beaded border surrounding. 58 grams, 11cm (4 1/4"). Fine condition, rim chipped. From a North London collection; formed 1980-1990. See discussion in Godard, F. The Art of Iran, London, 1965, ch.5.
10th-9th century BC. A lentoid-section stone bar with bronze cap to one end and protome of the foreparts of an ibex with curved neck and ears, horns recurved to the rear of the neck; loops to the sides of the mouth with attached chain. 281 grams, 31.5cm (12 1/2"). Fine condition. From a South West London collection; formed 1990-2000. Cf. Moorey, P.R.S. Ancient Bronzes From Luristan, London, 1974, plate IV, items A, C; see discussion in Muscarella, O.W. Bronze and Iron. Ancient Near Eastern Artifacts in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1988, p.182-3. .
13th-7th century BC. A bifacial bronze sceptre finial formed as a waisted tube with flared collars, and another with three facing masks, two lateral opposed beasts; mounted on a custom-made stand. 566 grams, 43cm including stand (17"). Private collection, acquired by descent 1970s. Cf. Legrain, L. Luristan Bronzes in the University Museum, Pennsylvania, 1934, item 2. The sceptres, or so called standards, epitomize bronzes from Luristan. They are characterised by a high degree of stylisation and conservative iconographical traditions. The major theme on them is that of a male or female figure grasping snarling beasts; subsidiary motifs, especially animal heads, are often appended. The central image of the Master/Mistress of the Beats has a lengthy Mesopotamian and Elamite history, as well as appearing in Bronze Age Greece. The sceptres seem to have acted as insignia of authority for the elite and one example found in a tomb at Tattulban, Iran, lay next to the head of a male warrior equipped with iron dagger, quiver, arrows and shield.
Later 2nd millennium BC. A bronze sceptre element formed as two opposed stylised ibexes with raised forelegs and scrolled horns, standing on a ribbed collar; mounted on a custom-made stand. 254 grams, 17.5cm including stand (7"). Fine condition. Property of a London gentleman; acquired London art market, 1970-1980. Cf. Legrain, L. Luristan Bronzes in the University Museum, Pennsylvania, 1934, plate II, item 4.
6th century BC-3rd century AD. A flat-section bronze plaque with ropework borders, incised image of deer grazing, applied reinforcing plate pierced for attachment. 87 grams, 12.5cm (5"). [No Reverse] Fine condition, plate damaged. From an old Munich collection; acquired on the German art market before 2000.
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