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Click here to subscribe10th-12th century AD. A bronze sword or dagger scabbard chape, conical with extended lateral trefoil arms, scooped upper edges, reserved trefoil and tendril motifs to each face. Cf. Paulsen, P. Schwertortbänder der Wikingerzeit, Stuttgart, 1953, item 192. 40 grams, 54mm (2 1/4"). Property of an American collector; acquired 1980-2000. [No Reserve] Fine condition; one arm partly absent.
9th-10th century AD. A panel from a two-part bronze chape, shield-shaped with extended band to the upper edge, incised interlace decoration to the outer face. Cf. Paulsen, P. Schwertortbänder der Wikingerzeit. Ein Betrag zur Frühgeschichte Osteuropas, Stuttgart, 1953, item 58. 18 grams, 67mm (2 3/4"). Property of a German collector; acquired in the 1990s. [No Reserve] "Poor condition, abraded."
10th-12th century AD. A mixed group of bronze chapes comprising: one conical with knop to the underside, scroll detailing; one similar, scooped upper edge with cross; one a D-shaped plaque with raised design. 73 grams total, 33-93mm (1 1/4 - 3 3/4"). Property of an American collector; acquired 1980-2000. [3, No Reserve] Fair condition.
9th-12th century AD. A pair of cast bronze plaques comprising: one with elliptical plaque, central piercing, addorsed bird-heads; one similar with bird-heads to both faces. 6.99 grams, 22-29mm (1 - 1 1/4"). Property of a German collector; acquired in the 1990s. [2, No Reserve] Fine condition.
11th century AD. A flat-section tongue-shaped bronze strap end fragment with raised border, high-relief profile Ringerike Style beast with billetted body and profile head with pellet eye and pigtail lappet; pierced in two places. Cf. Hammond, B. British Artefacts vol.3 - Late Saxon, Late Viking & Norman, Witham, 2013, item 1.6-p. 7.76 grams, 41mm (1 3/4"). Found Winteringham, Humberside, UK, in 1978. Fine condition.
10th-12th century AD. A mixed group of bronze items comprising: a tongue-shaped strap end, D-shaped in section; a bifacial gilt-bronze strap end; a tongue-shaped tag with interlace. 22 grams, 44-51mm (1 3/4 - 2"). Property of an American collector; acquired 1980-2000. [3, No Reserve] Fine condition.
10th-13th century AD. A bronze plumb-bob or steelyard weight, piriform with pierced trefoil finial, scrolled foliage detail on a raised panel to the two broad faces. 33 grams, 41mm (1 3/4"). From an old Munich collection; acquired on the German art market before 2000. [No Reserve] Fine condition.
10th-13th century AD. A large bronze plumb-bob or steelyard weight, piriform with pierced trefoil finial, scrolled foliage detail on a raised panel to the two broad faces. 114 grams, 66mm (2 3/4"). From an old Munich collection; acquired on the German art market before 2000. [No Reserve] Fine condition.
9th-12th century AD. A bronze piriform mount or repoussé die with pellets to the border, central motif of a facing figure with centre-parted hair, the body angled forwards with geometric lines before, trefoil behind the shoulders, possibly depicting god Baldr being killed by a mistletoe branch. Supplied with a positive X-Ray Fluorescence analysis certificate. Baldr was a young and beautiful god of light and purity, son of the god Odin and the goddess Frigg. He had a dream of his own death and when his mother found out about the danger, she made every object in every realm vow never to hurt Baldr, except mistletoe. Loki, cunning god of mischief, found out and hurried to the place where the gods were indulging in throwing objects at Baldr, which would bounce off without harming him. Loki gave the mistletoe to Baldr's blind brother Hodr, who then inadvertently killed his brother with it. The story of Baldr's death is also recorded in Saxo Grammaticus' book Gesta Danorum, although it tells a slightly different story, in which Balder (called Balderus) is defeated by Hodr (called Hotherus) with a magic sword called Mistletoe. In this tale, Balder and Hodr were rival suitors for the hand of Nanna (wife of Balder in Edda), and Balder was a demigod with (nearly) invulnerable body. 27 grams, 42mm (1 3/4"). From an old Munich collection; acquired on the German art market before 2000. Very fine condition. Extremely rare.
9th-12th century AD. A mixed group of decorative items comprising: a lead serpentine monster-head; two bronze dragon-heads modelled in the round; a flat-section bronze monster-head plaque; a buckle loop with bear-head details; an openwork gilt-bronze plaque of a bird. 22 grams total, 18-42mm (3/4 - 1 3/4"). Property of an American collector; acquired 1980-2000. [6, No Reserve] Fine condition.
10th-11th century AD. A mixed group of mainly bronze Scandinavian type items (widespread in the historical Rus region) comprising: a belt-mount with double hook; a bridle mount with one discoid terminal and corresponding socket; three cruciform pendants; a tubular slider; a silver-gilt kolovrat pendant; a silver pendant with granules and filigree; a silver openwork pendant fragment; an earring with two glass beads; a twisted ring with bulb; four heart-shaped plaques; three tongue-shaped mounts; two beast-head mounts. Cf. Korshyn, V.E. Yazcheskye Priveski Drevnei Rusi X-XIV Vekov, volume I, Moscow, 2013, item B.3.03. 58 grams total, 13-28mm (1/2 - 1"). Property of an American collector; acquired 1980-2000. [20] Mainly fine condition.
9th-12th century AD. A Scandinavian type mount (widespread in the historical Rus region) comprising: boar's tusk mounted in a bronze sleeve with holes for suspension or attachment. Cf. Korshyn, V.E. Yazcheskye Priveski Drevnei Rusi X-XIV Vekov, volume I, Moscow, 2013, item A.1.04. 23 grams, 98mm (4"). Property of a Surrey collector; acquired in the early 1970s. [No Reserve] Fine condition.
1st millennium AD. A hand-carved amphibolite situla with flat bottom, slightly waisted sidewall, ridged rim; the bottom dressed with a five-prong stonemason's chisel. The form of the vessel is similar to a number of bronze vessels of 5th and 6th century date, possibly of Byzantine origin, found in princely graves such as that found at in grave 1763 at Krefeld-Gellep, Germany. 2.7 kg, 26.5cm (10 1/2"). Ex Lincolnshire, UK, collection; acquired London 1990s. [No Reserve] Fine condition; repair at rim.
2nd millennium BC. A broad, shallow bronze bowl with slightly flared sidewall, repoussé figures of recumbent bulls to the centre with cast head and neck elements attached. 875 grams, 29cm (11 1/2"). From the collection of a North West London gentleman; acquired in the 1980s. "Fine condition, repaired."
4th century BC. A broad bronze carinated bowl with radiating repoussé ovoid panels and pellets, central rosette. Cf. Curtiss, J. & Tallis, N. Forgotten Empire. The World of Ancient Persia, London, 2005, item 277. 283 grams, 20cm (8"). Property of a North West London gentleman; formerly with a central London gallery in 1990. Fine condition.
5th century BC. A carved amber figurine with ribbed cap and lentoid eyes; pierced to accept a bronze suspension loop with twisted ends. See Causey, F. Ancient and Carved Amber in the J. Paul Getty Museum. 6.71 grams, 45mm including loop (1 3/4"). Ex Silk collection; acquired in the 1970s. [No Reserve] Fine condition.
2800-550 BC. A bronze figure in conical cap and flared skirt, belt with animal's paws; notched detailing to the brow and eyes, hem of the skirt; hands supporting the breasts. Cf. pose of the figure in Godard, F. The Art of Iran, London, 1965, fig.62. 121 grams, 11.5cm (4 1/2"). From the collection of a North West London gentleman; acquired in the 1980s. Very fine condition. Very rare.
5th-4th century BC. A convex bronze mount of a stag with the legs folded beneath the body, large regardant head and pellet eye; loops to the reverse. 181 grams, 11.5cm (4 1/2"). Property of a Salisbury gentleman; previously acquired on the UK art market prior to 1985. [No Reserve] Fine condition.
2200-1700 BC. A bronze round-section hoop with transverse collars, beast-head finial, cast on a clay core; second similar finial separately cast to fit over a conical peg. 591 grams, 12.5cm (5"). Property of a London gentleman; aquired in the late 1970s and 1980s. Fine condition; casting flaws to the inside.
2nd millennium BC. A very large matched pair of hollow-cast bronze bracelets, each a round-section penannular hoop with opposed beast-head finials, ferrous accretion to the recessed eye-sockets. 779 grams total, 12cm (4 3/4"). Private collection, London, UK; formed 1970s-1980s. [2] Fair condition.
1250-600 BC. A bifacial bronze sceptre finial formed as a tube with three facing masks, two lateral opposed beasts gripped by the upper body, lateral bird-heads. Cf. Godard, F. The Art of Iran, London, 1965, item 19. 227 grams, 18cm (7"). From the collection of a North West London gentleman; acquired in the 1980s. Very fine condition.
1250-650 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 sheep or canines on hindlegs flanking a stylised human mask with second and third mask above; supplied with a custom-made stand. Cf. Godard, F. The Art of Iran, London, 1965, fig. 19. 567 grams, 45.5cm including stand (18"). Private collection, London, UK; formed 1970s-1980s. Fine condition.
1250-650 BC. A Bronze Age axehead with ribbed socket, flat upper face with peltoid horizontal adze blade to the rear and hooked vertical blade to the forward edge; supplied with a custom-made stand. 1.27 kg, 19cm including stand (7 1/2"). Ex Midlands collection; formerly with a Surrey gentleman; acquired on the English art market prior to 1980. Very fine condition.
1250-600 BC. A bronze horse bit comprising a square-section bar with one scrolled and one splayed terminal, two lateral plaques each propeller-shaped with openwork panels, ibex-head finial modelled in the round. Cf. Godard, F. The Art of Iran, London, 1965, fig.17. 369 grams, 15cm (6"). Private collection, London, UK; formerly with Persepolis Gallery, Mayfair, London, UK; in the 1980s. Very fine condition.
1250-600 BC. A bronze horse bit comprising a square-section scrolled bar with scrolled ends, two flat-section lateral plaques each formed as a horse on a baseline, with central hole and loops to the back and rump. Cf. Godard, F. The Art of Iran, London, 1965, item 24. 286 grams, 19cm (7 1/2"). From the collection of a North West London gentleman; acquired in the 1980s. Very fine condition.
1250-600 BC. A bronze horse bit comprising a square-section bar and lateral plaques; the bar with scrolled ends, the plaques each an advancing gryphon with head facing, raised tail curled to join the wing; two connecting loops to the reverse of each plaque; mounted on a custom-made stand. Cf. Godard, F. The Art of Iran, London, 1965, fig.17. 700 grams, 19cm including stand (7 1/2"). Property of a North West London gentleman; formerly with a central London gallery in 1990. Very fine condition.
1250-650 BC. A bronze horse-bit comprising a square-section bar with loop terminals, the cheek pieces cast in the form of facing ibexes. See L. Legrain, Luristan Bronzes in the University Museum, pl. XX. 502 grams, 23cm (9"). Property of a London gentleman; aquired in the late 1970s and 1980s. Fine condition.
12th-13th century AD. A bronze discoid mirror with one polished face; to the reverse, a central pierced lug and raised rim, addorsed pair of sphinxes amid foliage, band of text to the border. 198 grams, 11cm (4 1/4"). From an important North London collection formed before 1980. Very fine condition. Rare.
Nepal, 19th-early 20th century AD. A bronze figure of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara standing on a lotus base with eight arms holding various Buddhist symbols and five tiers of heads. Avalokiteshvara is the Bodhisattva of compassion and is perhaps the most venerated and popular Buddhist deity. The multiple heads symbolize his looking in all directions to help creatures that are suffering. 5.6 kg, 59cm (23 1/4"). From a large London collection; formed between 1980-late 1990s. Fine condition.
19th century AD. A bronze mask of the Hindu god Shiva shown with mustache and beard, decorative mark on the forehead and crown composed of stylised cobras. The origins of Shiva possibly date back to the Indus civilization of c. 3000 BC, where images of a horned deity sat in meditation, surrounded by animals bears a striking similarity to later images of the god. Shiva is an ambiguous deity being both a family god with his wife Parvati and his sons Ganesh and Skanda, but also as a solitary figure shunning company of gods and mortals and either meditating high in the Himalayas or living in cremation grounds with demons and ghosts. He is both the creator and destroyer of the cosmos, ushering in each new cosmic cycle with the sound of his drum. Shiva can take human form with up to ten arms and five heads, or is often depicted as a conical stone known as a Linga. This mask shows South Indian decorative styles and is possibly from Kerala. 4 kg, 34cm (13 1/2"). Acquired on the London art market in the late 1980s. Fine condition.
20th century AD. A bronze head of a boar with tusks to the side of the head; on the forehead is the sun and moon and above is an elaborate crown of rearing cobras. Varaha is the third avatara or incarnation of Vishnu to come to earth for the sake of mankind and cosmic order. Vishnu took the form of a boar when the demon Hiranyaksha threw the Earth goddess, Bhumidevi, into the cosmic ocean. Varaha dived into the ocean and retrieved the Earth by lifting her to the surface on his tusks. 2.6 kg, 24.5cm (9 3/4"). Acquired on the London art market in the late 1980s. Fine condition.
Han Dynasty, 206 BC-220 AD. A hollow-cast bronze head with parcel-gilt face, carefully dressed hair with band and top-knot. The head is from a statue of the Bodhisattva Manjushri, who is often shown in China and Japan as a child with his hair decorated with three buns. He is worshipped as the Bodhisattva of compassionate wisdom and is shown either seated on a lotus flower or elephant and holding a sword that cuts through the ignorance of mortal life. 271 grams, 91mm (3 3/4"). Ex McQuinley collection, acquired before 2000; formerly exhibited in 'The Silk Road' exhibition, 2002; 181 Piccadilly, London, W1. Fine condition.
19th century AD or later. A gilt-bronze hollow-cast statuette of Buddha Bhaisajyaguru seated cross-legged on a lotus flower base, left hand placed palm-upwards in the lap cradling the symbolic vase; underside closed by a plate with quatrefoil motif. Bhasajyaguru is more commonly known as the Medicine Buddha, who is both the healer and consoler of all living beings. He is shown in the same manner and attitudes to Gautama Buddha (the historical Buddha) with the exception that he holds a bowl with the medicinal Myrobalan plant growing out of it. 3 kg, 26cm (10 1/4"). From an important London collection, acquired in the 1970s. Fine condition.
19th century AD or later. A gilt-bronze hollow-cast figurine of Arya Tara seated on a lotus-flower base with ornate headdress and vegetation; plate to the underside with quatrefoil motif. Tara is considered to be the female equivalent to the Bodhisattva of compassion Avalokiteshvara. She is often shown holding a pomegranate, a symbol of prosperity, and a lotus flower to symbolise the pure mind of an enlightened being. 1.8 kg, 21cm (8 1/4"). Property of a London gentleman; acquired before 1980. Fine condition.
Han Dynasty, 206 BC-220 AD. A bronze discoid mirror with one polished face, central pierced lug in the form of a monkey surrounded by a frieze of monkeys with grapes and an outer band of birds with fruit. 717 grams, 15.5cm (6"). Ex McQuinley collection, London, UK; acquired before 2000. Fine condition.
Han Dynasty, 206 BC-220 AD. A convex-section bronze plaque with grotesque facing mask, scrolled edges, facetted attachment strap below the nose, pierced lug to the reverse; separate bronze ring handle. 260 grams total, 13cm (5"). Ex McQuinley collection, acquired before 2000. [2] Fine condition.
14th-15th century AD. A substantial bronze D-section hoop with slightly flared shoulders, notch to each lower edge, discoid bezel with intaglio design of the letter 'a' with fronds and stars. 21 grams, 32mm overall, 23.49mm internal diameter (approximate size British Z+3 1/2, USA 14.14, Europe 33.42, Japan 32) (1 1/4"). From an old Hampshire collection; by repute from the Duke of Northumberland collection. [No Reserve] Fine condition.
13th-14th century AD. A bronze round-section hoop with flat discoid bezel, intaglio monogram with letters K, A, P and O. 2.83 grams, 22mm overall, 19.85mm internal diameter (approximate size British T 1/2, USA 10, Europe 22.33, Japan 21) (1"). From a private collection of rings, acquired 1970s. [No Reserve] Fine condition.
12th-15th century AD. A slightly convex bronze hoop with starburst on each shoulder, discoid plaque with incised pentagram. 5.14 grams, 22mm overall, 18.58mm internal diameter (approximate size British Q1/2, USA 8 1/4, Europe 18.12, Japan 17) (1"). Property of a London gentleman; acquired before 1980. [No Reserve] Fine condition.
13th-15th century AD. A carinated bronze hoop and discoid plaque with incised pellet border, central quatrefoil with pellets and tendrils. 5.20 grams, 21mm overall, 18.73mm internal diameter (approximate size British R, USA 8 1/2, Europe 18.75, Japan 18) (3/4"). From an important London collection, acquired in the 1970s. [No Reserve] Very fine condition.
13th-15th century AD. A bronze flat-section hoop with triangular flange extension and lateral bulbs, incised scrolled patterns top the flange. 9.27 grams, 43mm overall, 24.42mm internal diameter (approximate size British Z+6, USA 15 1/2, Europe 36.69, Japan 35) (1 3/4"). Private collection, UK; formed in the 1980s. [No Reserve] Fine condition.
13th-15th century AD. A bronze barrel-section hoop with triangular flange extension, incised ropework and scrolled patterns. 9.45 grams, 39mm overall, 22.69mm internal diameter (approximate size British Z+2, USA 13 1/4, Europe 31.31, Japan 30) (1 1/2"). Property of a gentleman; acquired in the 1990s. [No Reserve] Fine condition.
13th-14th century AD. A bronze discoid seal matrix with strap and loop to the reverse; central fleur-de-lys motif with pellets and two lightly incised saltire crosses added later above; a double chevron below with legend '+S' RAOVL DV BOBERNART:' (seal of Ranulf of Bobernart) surrounding. The Bobernart (Bobernard) family were active in the Auvergne region of France as late as the 18th century. 7.96 grams, 29mm (1 1/4"). Private collection, UK. Fine condition.
13th-14th century AD. A bronze vesica flat seal with raised rib and suspension loop to reverse with intaglio design of Mother and Child with sun and crecent moon above and kneeling monk before; with incuse *S' WILL'I:DE:CALVOMOTE:CL'ICI for Clerk William of Calvomote. See Portable Antiquities Scheme, reference WAW-B0A106 (record printout included). The placename Calvomote is enigmatic; Christine Buckley has suggested it might be Chaumont-en-Vexin in northern France which was in English possession in the 12th century AD and given as this in Cartulaire blanc de Saint-Denis. 7.39 grams, 32.20mm (1 1/4"). An important London collection of ecclesiastical seals, acquired since the 1970s; recorded with the PAS (reference WAW-B0A106); found Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, UK, 2004. Very fine condition.
13th-14th century AD. A French bronze circular flat seal with raised rib and suspension loop to reverse; with intaglio design of a stag before a two-branched tree with a branch each side; with incuse *+S' SIMON·DE·CRECI: inscription for Simon of Crécy. See Barthélemy, Dominique, Les Deux Ages de la Seigneurie Banale Coucy XIe-XIIIe Siecle, p.402 for a reference to Simon. Simon de Crécy-sur-Serre was a French nobleman in the 13th century; Crécy was the site of the famous Hundred Years War battle in 1346 AD when Edward III crushed the French army and established the superiority of the English archers. 13.86 grams, 25.42mm (1"). From a significant private English collection of seal matrices, formed over the past 35 years. Fine condition.
13th-14th century AD. A bronze chessman seal matrix with hexagonal-section shank, collar and quatrefoil suspension loop; to the circular face an intaglio design of a squirrel couchant holding nut in mouth; with incuse *S' HEI' RAL' IOH'S DE CVLHAM MILNE for Henry Ralph John, miller at Culham (Oxfordshire). See Bloom, J. Harvey, English Seals, London, 1906, for general information. It is most unusual for a seal to give three names; perhaps intended here to represent more than one person? 10.87 grams, 20.90mm diameter (3/4"). From a significant private English collection of seal matrices, formed over the past 35 years. Very fine condition.
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