There are 350105 lots that match your search criteria. Subscribe now to get instant access to the full price guide service.
Click here to subscribe1st-2nd century AD. A convex bronze mount of a dolphin with scooped nose, S-curved body, ring-and-dot eye, three fins, raised tail with lateral fins; attachment lug to the reverse. 34 grams, 69mm (2 3/4"). Found near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK. The dolphin was a favourite motif for the Romans, often portrayed supporting Cupid and reinforcing the connection to sea-born Venus. Fine condition.
1st-2nd century AD. A flat-section bronze strap junction formed as one annular and one D-shaped plaques connecting two openwork pelta-shaped scrolled plaques with T-shaped extensions; mounted on a custom-made stand. 94 grams, 12cm including stand (4 3/4"). Property of an East London collector; acquired in the 1970s. Cf. Appels, A. & Laycock, S. Roman Buckles and Military Fittings, Witham, 2007, items AA14.54, 55. Very fine condition, cleaned and conserved.
2nd-3rd century AD. A bronze knife-handle of Minerva in helmet with bifid crest, cuirass with lion-mask to the chest, narrow base with transverse slot to the underside. 52 grams, 67mm (2 1/2"). Found Canterbury area, Kent, UK, 1980s. Cf. depictions of Minerva in the Museum Calvet d'Avignon in Rolland, H. Bronzes Antiques de Haute Provence, Paris, 1965, item 67. [No Reserve] Fair condition.
1st century BC-3rd century AD. A collection of bronze medical instruments comprising of four spatulas, two with short triangular ends, two with spear shaped ends; four spoons, one with wide shallow bowl, one with rounded, triangular rim and deep, small bowl, two with small shallow bowls. 75 grams total, 10-15.5cm (4-6 1/4"). Property of a London gentleman; acquired before 1980. [8] Fine condition.
1st-3rd century AD. A mixed pair of bronze items comprising: a dress pin with collared shaft, head formed as a bird; a dress pin with miniature key with transverse head and bits. 15 grams, 90-95mm (3 3/4"). Property of a gentleman; acquired in the late 1960s-early 1970s. [2, No Reserve] Fine condition.
2nd-3rd century AD. A flat-section bronze key with D-shaped bow, narrow neck, the ward pierced by two rows of circular holes, perpendicular serrated bit. 36 grams, 88mm (3 1/2"). Property of a gentleman; acquired in the late 1960s-early 1970s. Cf. Pall, M. Schlüssel und Schlösser, Graz, 2012, item 5594. [No Reserve] Fine condition.
1st-3rd century AD. A group of bronze artefacts comprising: one eagle plate plate eagle with declined head to the left, stamped roundel decoration on both wings, head and chest, pin absent; one dress pin with finial formed as a bird (duck?) in regardant pose; one furniture mount with large round finial. 72 grams total, 35-91mm (1 1/2 - 3 1/2"). Property of a German collector; acquired in the 1990s. [3, No Reserve] Fine condition.
2nd century AD. A bronze flat-section plate brooch with notched baseline, segmented body, ring-and-dot eye; hinged pin and catchplate to the reverse. 7.07 grams, 34mm (1 1/2"). Property of a London gentleman; acquired before 1980. Cf. Hattatt, R. Brooches of Antiquity, Oxford, 1987, item 1183. Very fine condition.
2nd century AD. A bronze zoomorphic brooch of a standing horse with halter and arched neck; beneath the rear legs a transverse crossbar and hinged pin, catchplate to the front legs. 12 grams, 38mm (1 1/2"). Property of a London businessman, from his grandfather's collection formed after World War II; thence by descent 1972. Cf. Hattatt, R. Ancient Brooches and Other Artefacts, Oxford, 1989, item 1643. Fine condition.
2nd century AD. A bronze zoomorphic brooch of a standing horse with halter and arched neck, textured tail; beneath the rear legs a transverse bar and pin, catchplate to the front legs. 8.91 grams, 34mm (1 1/4"). Property of a London businessman, from his grandfather's collection formed after World War II; thence by descent 1972. Cf. Hattatt, R. Ancient Brooches and Other Artefacts, Oxford, 1989, item 1644. [No Reserve] Fine condition.
2nd century AD. A bronze zoomorphic brooch of a standing horse with saddle and arched neck; beneath the rear legs a transverse spring and pin, catchplate to the front legs. 17 grams, 39mm (1 1/2"). Property of a London businessman, from his grandfather's collection formed after World War II; thence by descent 1972. Cf. Hattatt, R. Ancient Brooches and Other Artefacts, Oxford, 1989, item 1644. Fine condition.
2nd century AD. A bronze zoomorphic brooch of a standing horse with saddle and arched neck, ring-and-dot motifs to the flanks, rump and neck; beneath the rear legs a transverse spring and pin, catchplate to the front legs. 26 grams, 45mm (1 3/4"). Property of a London businessman, from his grandfather's collection formed after World War II; thence by descent 1972. Cf. Hattatt, R. Ancient Brooches and Other Artefacts, Oxford, 1989, item 1643. Very fine condition.
2nd-3rd century AD. A bronze plate brooch formed as four profile horse-heads each with a notched mouth and ears, ring-and-dot eye, central ring-and-dot motif; pin-lugs, pin and catchplate to the reverse. 8.92 grams, 36mm (1 1/2"). From an important London collection, acquired in the 1970s. Fine condition.
2nd century AD. A bronze plate brooch of a running hound with enamelled cell to the flank; pin and catchplate to the reverse. 5.18 grams, 42mm (1 3/4"). Property of a gentleman; acquired in the late 1960s-early 1970s. Cf. Hattatt, R. Brooches of Antiquity, Oxford, 1987, item 1188. [No Reserve] Fine condition.
2nd century AD. A flat-section bronze brooch of an eagle with wings spread, head curved to connect with the wing; notched detail to the tail and trailing edges of the wings; pin-lug and catchplate to the reverse. 9.18 grams, 31mm (1 1/4"). Property of a German collector; acquired in the 1980s and 1990s. [No Reserve] Fine condition.
2nd century AD. A bronze plate brooch of a bird with pointillé detail to the spread wings, head modelled in the round, pin-lug and catchplate to the underside. 4.87 grams, 24mm (1"). Property of a German collector; acquired in the 1980s and 1990s. Cf. Hattatt, R. Brooches of Antiquity, Oxford, 1987, item 1160. [No Reserve] Fine condition.
2nd century AD. A bronze bird brooch with body and head modelled in the round, flat-section trapezoidal tail with ring-and-dot motifs; pin-lugs, pin and catchplate to the underside. 6.54 grams, 37mm (1 1/2"). Property of a German collector; acquired in the 1980s and 1990s. Cf. Hattatt, R. Iron Age and Roman Brooches, Oxford, 1985, item 624. [No Reserve] Fine condition.
2nd century AD. A bronze plate brooch of a bird with raised head, notch detailing to wings and tail, catchplate, spring and pin to the reverse. 9.98 grams, 34mm (1 1/4"). Property of a London businessman, from his grandfather's collection formed after World War II; thence by descent 1972. Cf. Hattatt, R. Ancient Brooches and Other Artefacts, Oxford, 1989, item 1637. [No Reserve] Fine condition.
1st century BC-1st century AD. A bronze bow brooch with narrow lozenge-section bow, pivoted jaws, rectangular catchplate with pierced lug; pivoted pin; bands of punched crescents to the upper faces. 18 grams, 10.5cm (4"). UK art market, acquired prior to 1980. Cf. Hattatt, R. Brooches of Antiquity, Oxford, 1987, item 1271. Fine condition.
1st-3rd century AD. A pair of restrung necklaces comprising: one of mainly ribbed tubular and discoid iridescent beads with a bronze miniature ladle pendant; one of mainly mainly tubular and spherical iridescent beads with a discoid tabular bead. 44 grams total, 48-79cm (19 - 31"). Property of a gentleman; acquired in the late 1960s-early 1970s. [2, No Reserve] Fair condition.
11th-13th century AD. A hollow-formed bronze reliquary cross pendant with hinge and suspension loop; to one face, Corpus Christi within wavy borders, 'ICXC' above; to the reverse, Mary in orans posture between billet borders, 'MPOP' above. 72 grams, 95mm (3 3/4"). Property of a Surrey collector; acquired in the early 1970s. See Kytasov, S.N. & Selezhnyev, A.B. Natlenye Kresti, Krestovklychennie i Krestoidnye Podveski X-XV Vekov,Moscow, 2010, p.304 for type. This style of cross belongs to a group of pectoral reliquaries that were popular in the years after iconoclasm, from the ninth to the twelfth centuries. The most precious examples were made from gold, such as the famous Pliska reliquary cross. The large number of surviving examples that are made from bronze and found throughout the Byzantine Empire, indicates that jewellery of this type was fashionable in all regions and among all social strata. Fine condition.
12th century AD. A bronze reliquary cross pendant formed as two plaques with hinge lugs above and below, each with roundel finials containing facing busts; Corpus Christi to one face, robed Mary Theotokos to the other with 'MP' and '?' flanking. 52 grams, 81mm (3 1/4"). From an old Munich collection; acquired on the German art market before 2000. See The Collection of Encolpions, Crosses and sacred Images of B.I and V.N Khanenko, Kiev, 1899, item 86. [No Reserve] Fine condition.
11th-13th century AD. A bronze discoid pendant with integral loop, ornamental border, image of Mary with hands raised in the orans posture, infant Jesus below; possibly originating in the Slavic regions. 1.35 grams, 25mm (1"). From an old Munich collection; acquired on the German art market before 2000. See Kolchin, B.A. and Makarova, T.I. Drevnyaya Rus', Byt i kultura, Moscow, 1997, plate 115, item 20 for similar iconographic style. The pendant depicts The Virgin of the Sign which shows the Virgin Mary with a disc at her womb with Christ Emmanuel within and symbolises the Annunciation. The image is also known as the Mother of God Blachernitissa, after the icon that appeared in Constantinople in the ninth century and was kept at the Church of the Blachernae, and which became the symbol and protector of the city. The image also became very popular in Russia with major churches being dedicated to it in Kiev and Novgorod. [No Reserve] Fine condition, worn.
9th-12th century AD. A bronze frontal plate from a reliquary cross pendant with hinge tabs top and bottom; Corpus Christi in loose robes with smaller facing figure to the end of each arm, rectangular block above flanked by sun and crescent moon, text below the arms '????????? ???????? ??????' (with ligatures); hollow to the reverse. 31 grams, 80mm (3 1/4"). From an old Munich collection; acquired on the German art market before 2000. See The Collection of Encolpions, Crosses and sacred Images of B.I and V.N Khanenko, Kiev, 1899. [No Reserve] Very fine condition.
10th-12th century AD. A flat-section bronze discoid pendant with integral loop, low relief image of Saint Demetrius, winged and nimbate, on horseback with a lance. 1.92 grams, 24mm (1"). Property of an American collector; acquired 1980-2000. Demetrios was a martyr saint from Thessaloniki who is believed to have lived in the late third century AD and was killed sometime around 306 AD during the persecutions of Diocletian. During the Middle Ages he became one of the most important warrior saints of the Orthodox Church and is often paired with St George. His feast day is 26 October. His relics are kept at the Aghios Demetrios Basilica in Thessaloniki, Greece. Very fine condition.
11th-13th century. A bronze lock case formed as a model horse with curved neck, flat-section legs and flange tail; cavity to the chest to accept the mechanism, hole to the flank and pierced lug to the shoulder. 32 grams, 43mm (1 3/4"). From an old Munich collection; acquired on the German art market before 2000. [No Reserve] Fair condition.
11th-13th century AD. A bronze plate from a lock formed as a horse with long curved neck and flat-section legs, pierced lug to lower part of the neck; punched roundel marks decorating the body. 7 grams, 45mm (1 3/4"). From an old Munich collection; acquired on the German art market before 2000. [No Reserve] Fine condition.
4th-6th century AD. A large bronze decorative lamp filler with three leaves, two small side trefoil shaped and the larger one at the back acting as a handle with ribbed edging; long spout with deep bowl interior of which has a raised rivet-like shape at centre. 155 grams, 15 x 8.5cm (5 3/4 x 3 1/4"). Private collection, North London; acquired in the early 1980s. Fair condition.
6th-7th century AD. A gold wire ring, the ends twisted to form a spiral pattern at the bezel, wrapped around the shank to secure the wire. 2.67 grams, 21.85mm overall, 19.75mm internal diameter (approximate size T 1/2 British; 10 USA; 20 Europe; 20 Japan) Property of a German collector; acquired in the 1990s. For a similar style ring, but made from bronze, see the example found at Wedmore, Somerset, in 1988. Fine condition.
Later 6th-7th century AD. A trapezoidal gilt-bronze mount with two rectangular recesses connected by a narrow channel in a barbell configuration, each recess with rectangular ribbing parallel to the external border and central pellet; in the upper recess a second beaded border. 6.44 grams, 32mm (1 1/4"). Found Cambridgeshire, UK. Cf. Smith, R.A. British Museum Guide to Anglo-Saxon Antiquities, London, 1923, p.61, fig.67. Very fine condition.
8th century AD. Part of a flat-section gilt-bronze cruciform mount or appliqué fragment with beaded border to the discoid centre enclosing four bilinear triquetra motifs forming a stylised cross; remains of two contiguous arms, each with a bilinear knot work motifs. 3.39 grams, 22mm (3/4"). Found Hertfordshire, UK. Cf. similar designs in Webster, L. & Backhouse, J. The Making of England. Anglo-Saxon Art and Culture AD 600-900, London, 1991, items 106, 107a. Fine condition.
8th-10th century AD. A repoussé bronze disc with beaded border and central image of a regardant beast and cross, possibly the Agnus Dei; the edges crimped over a second bronze disc with solder scars. 3.83 grams, 34mm (1 1/4"). Found near Saxmundham, Suffolk, UK; 2001. Very fine condition. Rare.
4th-5th century AD. A matched pair of gold bow brooches, each a D-shaped headplate with beaded wire border, granule clusters and four cabochon garnets in cells with beaded wire collars, shallow keeled bow with offset triangular granule clusters, lozengiform footplate with beaded wire borders, granule clusters, and four cabochon garnets in cells; bronze core to the reverse with spring and catchplate. 16 grams total, 44mm (1 3/4"). From an old Oriental collection. Cf. Menghin, W. The Merovingian Period. Europe Without Borders, Berlin, 2007, item I.25.1 for a larger, similarly constructed and ornamented example. Very fine condition.
9th-10th century AD. A bronze male idol, possibly depicting a god or a saint, dressed in a long robe and tall conical hat holding a staff in his left hand. 86 grams, 95mm (3 3/4"). Property of a professional; acquired on the European art market in the 1980s. A similar hat/crown detail can be seen on the Zbruch idol, which is believed to represent a pre-Christian deity. The pillar is commonly associated with the Slavic deity Svetovid, although opinions on the exact meaning of all the bas-reliefs and their symbols differ. There are also theories claiming it to be Triglav, Perun, Dazbog or Veles, but because our knowledge of iconography of Slavic gods is limited, there is no definite conclusion. However, it is known that most of the saints adapted attributes of pre-Christian gods, which resulted in syncretism, traceable especially in folklore. This statue may represent modified version of Veles in his aspect of a protector of cattle and shepherds, but it is possible that it represents an early depiction of a saint, as well. Very fine condition, very rare.
6th century AD. A man's iron grave-good assemblage comprising: a slender leaf-shaped spearhead with a long split socket, pierced to accept a securing rivet; a francisca axehead with gracefully curved blade and flared edge, flat to the reverse; a sword with parallel-sided blade and rounded tip, shallow fuller to the centre, piled edges, long flat-section tang; a domed shield boss with three of the original five securing bossed rivets (one with the rove to the underside) and plano-convex apical stud on a shank; a buckle set with triangular plate and three rectangular slots, elliptical loop, tongue with peltoid plaque to the rear and curved forward end, two of three domed bronze rivets. 1.5 kg total, length of sword 89 cm (35"). Ex Belgian collection; by inheritance 1986; believed found Belgium before 1960. Many of the items have close parallels in the material from the Merovingian Frankish cemetery at Goudelancourt published in Nice, A. Revue Archéologique de Picardie: La Nécropole Mérovingienne de Goudelancourt-lès Pierrepont (Aisne); cf also Dickinson, T. & Härke, H. Early Anglo-Saxon Shields and Swanton, M.J. The Spearheads of the Anglo-Saxon Settlements. The shield boss is of Dickinson and Härke's Group 3, used in England and the northwest continent in the 6th and early 7th century AD. The spearhead is of Swanton's Type D2, a 6th century profile 'characteristic of the Franks' (Swanton, 173, p.69"). [5] Fair-fine condition.
6th-7th century AD. A rectangular bronze mount with three triangular recesses to each flat face; square recess to the apex with inset patterned gold foil; hollow to the reverse with transverse bar for attachment. 4.25 grams, 16mm (3/4"). Property of an East London collector; acquired before 2010. Cf. Menghin, W. Das Schwert im Frühen Mittelalter, Stuttgart, 1983, item 128 (Niederstotzingen); Mortimer, P. Woden's Warriors. Warriors and Warfare in 6th-7th Century Northern Europe, Ely, 2011, fig.SW54(d"). [No Reserve] Fair condition.
5th-6th century AD. A slightly domed bronze mount formed as an S-curved body and two profile horse-head finials each with a ring-and-dot eye, notched mane, pricked ear; substantial staple to the reverse. 5.97 grams, 28mm (1"). Property of an American collector; acquired 1980-2000. [No Reserve] Fine condition.
Late 5th-6th century AD. A bronze cruciform bow brooch of Barrington Type comprising a rectangular headplate with central ring-and-dot motif. three D-section lugs, deep bow with chamfered ends, flat footplate with transverse bands; horse-head finial with raised eyes and nostrils; pierced lug an long catchplate to the reverse. 13 grams, 70mm (2 3/4"). Property of a German collector; acquired in the 1980s and 1990s. Cf. West, S. A Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Finds From Suffolk, East Anglian Archaeology 84, Ipswich, 1998, fig.147, item 11. [No Reserve] Fine condition.
5th-10th century AD. A square-section bronze shank with median 'bowtie' plaque, flat bowl, pierced finial with wire suspension loop. 4.53 grams, 88mm (3 1/2"). Found Cambridgeshire, UK. Cf. Parfitt, K. & Anderson, T. Buckland Anglo-Saxon Cemetery Dover, Archaeology of Canterbury New Series vol. VI, Canterbury, 2012, fig.10.4 (f"). [No Reserve] Very fine condition.
8th-9th century AD. A bronze barrel key with round-section shank, piriform bow, rectangular ward with two lateral bits. 9.43 grams, 49mm (2"). Found near Ringstead, Norfolk, UK; 2003. Cf. Webster, L. & Backhouse, J. The Making of England. Anglo-Saxon Art and Culture AD 600-900, London, 1991, item 66(q"). Fine condition. Scarce.
7th century AD. A bronze radiate-headed bow brooch with D-shaped headplate and five radiating collared lugs, concentric arches to the median panel, shallow ribbed bow, lozengiform footplate with concentric lozenges, lateral cells, animal-head finial; remains of lug and catchplate to the reverse. 11 grams, 82mm (3 1/4"). Property of a gentleman; acquired in the late 1960s-early 1970s. Cf. Menghin, W. The Merovingian Period. Europe Without Borders, Berlin, 2007, item VI.6.7 for type. [No Reserve] Fine condition, small casting flaw to footplate.
6th-7th century AD. A small bronze radiate-headed brooch with semicircular headplate and pellets to the outer edge, ribbed bow, knot-design decorated footplate, knob-shaped terminal; pin-lugs and catchplate to the reverse. 16 grams, 51mm (2"). From an old Munich collection; acquired on the German art market before 2000. For similar see Menghin, W. The Merovingian Period. Europe Without Borders, Berlin, 2007, item VII.40.22 [No Reserve] Fine condition.
7th-8th century AD. A mixed group of mounts comprising: a bronze discoid stud with human face modelled in the half-round; a flat-section plaque with stylised face; a domed silver appliqué with palmette motif; a flat-section shield-shaped appliqué with trefoil motif. 11 grams total, 13-19mm (1/2 - 3/4"). From an old Munich collection; acquired on the German art market before 2000. [4, No Reserve] Fine condition.
2nd millennium BC. A penannular neck-ring with clubbed finials, the shank twisted about its own axis. 10 grams, 13.5cm (5 1/4"). Ex Clements collection; acquired continental Europe; by descent 2004. Cf. twisted gold neck-rings in Evans, J. The Ancient Bronze Implements, Weapons and Ornaments of Great Britain and Ireland, London, 1881, items 466-469. Very fine condition.
12th-8th century BC. A bronze spearhead with conical socket developing into the median rib of the lanceolate blade; the socket pierced for attachment. 106 grams, 15.5cm (6"). From a private European collection; formed in the 1980s. Cf. Evans, J. The Ancient Bronze Implements, Weapons and Ornaments of Great Britain and Ireland, London, 1881, item 391. Very fine condition, hairline crack to midrib.
Loading...
