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A Novelty Book Shaped Vesta Case with a compartment for sovereigns, unique item, in white metal. Shaped in the form of a book. Please see images.

Lowry 'The Football Match' Limited Edition Collector's Item Vase. Based on a pencil drawing by L. S. Lowry, entitled 'The Football Match'. This authorised edition of only 50 vases has been created by the Dennis Chinaworks, and designed by Sally Tuffin. She has taken Lowry's original work and interpreted it to work seamlessly around a three dimensional cylindrical stem vase. The 10'' pot is hand thrown on a wheel by potter Rory McLeod, and hand painted by the celebrated renowned artist Vanessa Thompson. This unique vase is also signed by the artist using hand brush techniques which make this pot unmistakable a Lowry. The highlights are elevated by tube lining applications. Each hand painted limited edition vase will vary slightly. The pot is fully signed in monogram by the designer, potter and artist, and dated 2019. Limited edition number 6/50. Numbers 1 to 5 are in private UK collections. The vase offered for sale will be the second offered at auction. Vase size 10'' tall, fully signed and numbered. Vase no 5 was sold in our rooms at lot 450 on the 16th January 2020. Please see images.

Diecast : Minic Motorways by Triang model set in original box - some scuffs but lovely item

Football : Ipswich Town large press photos x5 inc Billy Baxter/Ray Crawford (4 x 10x8) & some smaller portraits (7) nice item

Speedway : Audenshaw - Manchester - Dirt track races - 6 page fold out car 12/05/1928 superb condition - wonderful item

Football : Giles collectable Ipswich Town limited edition print 12 of 20 signed by many of 1978 cup winning team - rare item

Collectables : Radio - early Marconi radio - interesting item

Football : Giles collectable Ipswich Town limited edition print 12 of 20 signed by many of 1978 cup winning team - rare item

OASIS HANDWRITTEN LYRICS - ROLL WITH IT. A set of handwritten lyrics on card in the hand of Noel Gallagher for Oasis 'Roll With It'. Likely used as a studio copy or on tour rehearsals. Measures approx 20 x 30cm. Includes detailed letter of provenance and second letter of provenance for a similar item, indicating the original origin of this piece.

OASIS HANDWRITTEN LYRICS - ALL AROUND THE WORLD. A set of handwritten lyrics on paper in the hand of Noel Gallagher for Oasis 'All Around The World'. Likely used as a studio copy or on tour rehearsals. Measures approx A4, 21 x 29.5cm. Includes detailed letter of provenance and second letter of provenance for a similar item, indicating the original origin of this piece.

OASIS PHONE BOX DISPLAY USED ON STAGE DURING THE BE HERE NOW TOUR. A stage prop built to resemble a British telephone box, through which Oasis would appear on stage during the Be Here Now tour. Includes original faxed copy of the design plans from 'MDM Props Limited' and a framed photo display with images of the phone box being used on stage. The prop is a construction in wood and steel and measures approx 70" wide, 38" tall and 4" deep. Provenance: the current vendor purchased the item from a Christie's sale, who had sold it on behalf of Madame Tussauds, London.

11th-12th century AD. A four-plate iron helmet constructed from curved triangular sections with a slight point at the apex; the bowl contoured so that the front and back plates overlap the side-plates by 1-2cm, with iron rivets passing through this overlap to secure them in position; the rivets worked flat into the surface of the helmet, almost invisible from the outside but detectable on the inner surface; the plate-junction at the apex supplied with a small loop, allowing a plume or horsehair streamer to be inserted; mounted on a custom-made stand. See Curtis, H. M., 2,500 Years of European Helmets, North Hollywood, 1978; Denny, N. & Filmer-Sankey, J., The Bayeux Tapestry, London, 1966; Kirpicnikow, A. N., Russische Helme aus dem Frühen Mittelalter Waffen- und Kostamkunde, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, pt. 2, 1973; Menghin, W. The Merovingian Period - Europe Without Borders, Berlin, 2007, p.326-7, item I.34.4. 1.2 kg total, 32.5cm with stand (12 3/4"). From a North West London collection; previously acquired in the 1980s. Helmets of this general profile and with some form of conical crest are a long-lived military fashion in the Black Sea region, and appear in designs on the bone facing of a Khazar saddle of 7th-8th century date from the Shilovskiy gravefield (Samara region); a similar helmet (of presumed 5th century AD date) is housed in the St. Petersburg Museum (inventory reference PA72), previously in the MVF Berlin until 1945 under inventory ref.IIId 1789i. The rivetted-plate construction was employed across Europe from the Migration Period through to the 12th century: it is this form which appears on the heads of English and Norman warriors in the Bayeux tapestry. Fine condition, some restoration.

9th-10th century AD. A green fluted glass vessel with biconical body and tall funnel neck, applied strap handle with thumb-pad, pontil base. Cf. Whitehouse, D. Islamic Glass in the Corning Museum of Glass, vol.1, New York, 2010, item 238 for type. 242 grams, 17cm (6 3/4"). Property of a London gentleman; formerly with Mahboubian Gallery, London, UK; acquired before 1972. Fine condition, restored.

2nd-3rd century AD. With practised skill the sculptor has achieved a majestic and finely carved schist frieze fragment depicting a female dancer in a beguiling, natural pose with the left hand raised and the left leg crossed before the right; adorned with an ornamental band to the dressed hair, the figure suggests voluptuous allure; the collar with its geometric ornament completes a loose draped robe extending to the ankles with finely executed folds and swags; anklets, bracelets and long drop earring add sumptuousness to the dancer's attire, while the thick necklace draped between the breasts emphasises this features; above, an arch of leafy foliage held playfully between her fingers, below a dais with rosettes and lotus-leaf border; mounted on a custom-made stand. Cf. Jongeward, D. Buddhist Art of Gandhara in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, 2018, item 49. Exhibited at ‘The Buddha Image: Out of Uddiyana’, Tibet House, 22 West 15th Street, New York, 16 September-20 October 2010, extended to 16 November and again to 7 January 2011; accompanied by a copy of the main Tibet House exhibition press release. 31.1 kg, 91.5cm including stand (36"). Acquired for the ‘Buckingham Collection’ by the late Nik Douglas (1944-2012), renowned author, curator and Asian art expert; the collection formed from the early 1960s to early 1970s; displayed at the major exhibition ‘The Buddha Image: Out of Uddiyana’, Tibet House, 22 West 15th Street, New York, 16 September-20 October 2010, extended to 16 November and again to 7 January 2011; where the collection of one hundred pieces was publicly valued at US$ 15M; this piece was scheduled to be included in an exhibition entitled ‘On the Silk Route; Birth of The Buddha’, to be held in London from November 2012, but sadly his death prevented this; accompanied by copies of several press releases and articles for the exhibition, including Artnet News, This Week in New York, Huffpost and Buddhist Art News. Accompanied by geologic report No. TL005262 by geologic consultant Dr R. L. Bonewitz. Dr Bonewitz notes: 'No definite source localities have been identified for the stones used by the Gandharan sculptors, but the predominant rock was an alumina-rich chloritoid-paragonite-muscovite-quartz schist, probably from Swat.' Very fine condition.

6th-7th century AD. A gold mount comprising a discoid plaque and three attachment loops to the reverse; central panel with three heart-shaped and other garnet cloisons in cells, radiating wedge-shaped flanges with applied beaded wire loops, frieze of ten profile bird-heads in garnet cloisons, notched rim. Cf. Burollet, T. (ed.) Les Francs: Précurseurs de l'Europe, Paris, 1997, item 22 for similar arrangement. 24.09 grams, 43mm (1 3/4"). From the property of a London gentleman; formerly in a UK collection, acquired in the 1990s. Fine condition, minor repairs to back plate.

5th century AD. A silver-gilt bow brooch comprising a triangular headplate with cabochon amethyst(?) to each angle, deep ribbed bow, footplate formed as a beast-head with pellet eyes and teeth visible at each side, recurved catch to the reverse. Cf. Tejral, J. Morava na Sklonku Antiky, Prague, 1982, item 93(2"). 27.6 grams, 75mm (3"). Property of a gentleman; acquired in the late 1960s-early 1970s. The footplate is an almost exact copy of the beast-head on the face-plate of the Sutton Hoo helmet. Fine condition.

8th-6th century BC. A bronze looped and socketted axehead with convex edge and lateral spurs, bulbous collar to mouth, raised D-shaped wing to each broad face. Cf. Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C.B. The Axes of Scotland and Northern England, Prähistorische Bronzefunde, Ab. IX, vol. 7, Munich, 1981, item 1287. 261 grams, 11.5cm (4 1/2"). From the property of a London gentleman; formerly in a UK collection, acquired in the 1990s. Fine condition, chip to socket.

1st-3rd century AD. A carved schist statue of Bodhisattva Maitreya standing, wearing a loose mantle and dhoti, with floral collar and draped festoon to the neck, decorative band to the upper arm; mounted on a custom-made stand. See Jongeward, D. Buddhist Art of Gandhara in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, 2018, item 76 for type. 34 kg, 67cm including stand (27 1/4"). Private collection, South West London; acquired before 2000. Fine condition.

2nd century BC-2nd century AD. An iconic Pagan sculpture securely dated to the Irish Celtic Period of 200 BC-200 AD, this large and imposing carved sandstone head was modelled from a substantial hemispherical boulder; the elegantly simplistic facial features comprise convex lentoid eyes flanking a rectangular flat nose, above a horizontal slit mouth with a suggestion of cheeks; the current owner, James Moore, has written about the various scholars that viewed it prior to his acquisition at auction: 'the head was viewed prior to the auction by many people experienced in these matters. They included Dr Patrick Wallace, director of the National Museum of Ireland and his staff; Dr Richard Warner former director of the Ulster Museum; eminent archaeologist and author Dr Peter Harrison; Professor Etienne Rynne, author of Celtic Stone Idols in Ireland in the Iron Age in the Irish Sea Province (available on the web"). All of the above gave favourable opinions, concurring with Dr Lacy's view. I have in my possession an exhibition catalogue of Celtic stone sculpture with an introduction by Martin Retch held by Karsten Schubert & Rupert Wace Ancient Art Ltd. in London 1989. There were eleven stone heads in this exhibition but in my opinion none of them had the qualities / provenance of the Ballyarton Head'; provided with a custom-made iron hoop stand for display. See Ross, A. Pagan Celtic Britain, London, 1967 for overview of the iconography of pre-Christian Britain and Ireland; Rynne. E. Figures from the Past, Studies on Figurative Art in Christian Ireland in Honour of Helen M. Roe, Dublin, 1987. 63 kg, 46 x 36cm including stand (18 x 14"). From the private collection of James Moore; acquired from Whyte’s Auctions 23 April 2010, lot 1 (front cover piece); formerly the property of Mr Pinkerton, Castlerock, County Derry; found by his father in the 1930s while repairing a stone wall in the Ballyarton Area of Claudy in the Sperrin Mountains, County Derry, Northern Ireland; accompanied by: a hand-written letter of the owner discussing the piece and its history; a copy of the relevant Whyte’s Auction catalogue pages with report by Kenneth Wiggins (MIAI, BA and an MPhil in archaeology), archaeologist and author; an original copy of an article on the item in the Irish Times newspaper (dated 1 May 2010); an original photograph of the head by Pinkerton when sited in his garden in 1976, inscribed as such to the reverse; original hand written correspondence with Dr Brian Lacy, Director of the Discovery Program and of The New University of Ulster, dating it to the period 200BC to 200AD (dated 29 July 1976), original signed correspondence with Craig McGuicken of the Heritage & Museum Service for Derry City Council requesting a loan of the object for display at the Tower Museum (affiliated to the Ulster Museum of N. Ireland); and with an orginal letter from Matt Seaver of the Irish Antiquities Division, National Museum of Ireland, dated 8 November 2019, showing interest in acquiring the head but suggesting that it be offered to the Ulster Museum first who were under-bidders in 2010. The subject of the iconography of pre-Christian stone heads is explored in Ross (1967, p.115ff) alongside the difficulty of establishing accurate dating for this artefact type. Stylistically, the Irish group of stone heads demonstrate a simplicity and economy of line which suggest an origin in the Iron Age (Rynne, 1987"). Professor Rynne is one of the 'many people experienced in these matters' who had the opportunity to view the head before the Whyte's auction in 2010, alongside Dr. Patrick Wallace (director, National Museum of Ireland), Dr. Richard Warner (former director of the Ulster Museum) and Dr. Peter Harbison, the eminent archaeologist. The opinion of this group agreed with that of a previous researcher, Dr. Brian Lacy, who wrote to the then owner of the piece in 1976 that '[t]hese heads normally occur in craft schools and on the basis of this example [and another from Alla townland nearby] it may be possible to identify a 'school' in the Claudy area.' It was Lacy who suggested a date range '200 BC to 200 AD' for the head. Professor Ian Armit has written several books and papers on the significance of the 'severed head' motif in Celtic (Iron Age) culture. In Death, decapitation and display? The Bronze and Iron Age human remains from the Sculptor's Cave, Covesea, north-east Scotland, Cambridge, 2011; and later in Headhunting and the Body in Iron Age Europe, Cambridge, 2012, he demonstrates that the human head carried symbolic associations with power, fertility, gender, and other social factors in the context of the Iron Age in Europe. The range of evidence for beheading and the subsequent curation and display of severed heads includes classical literary references, vernacular iconography and the physical, skeletal remains of the victims of this custom. The idea has arisen of a head-cult extending across most of Continental Europe and the islands of the North Atlantic including the British Isles. This notion is in turn used to support the idea of a unified and monolithic 'Celtic culture' in prehistory. However, head-veneration was seemingly practised across a range of Bronze Age and Iron Age societies and is not necessarily linked directly to the practice of head-hunting (i.e. curation of physical human remains"). The relations between the wielders of political power, religious authority and physical violence were more nuanced than a simple reading of the literary and physical evidence would suggest. The stone heads of Ireland are an enduring expression of this strong association between the human body and the numinous powers of the intellect. Fine condition. An important Irish antiquity, of a type very rarely in private ownership.

6th century AD. A bronze cruciform brooch (Group IVaiii) comprising a rectangular headplate and flared lateral wings with integrally-cast D-section bell-shaped knops, shallow bow with chamfered ends, tapering footplate with lateral bird-heads, terminal with facing horse-head mask and lateral looped nostrils; punched crescent decoration in vertical bands to the the headplate and footplate; ferrous accretion to the pin-lug, catch with extended spine below. Cf. West, S. A Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Finds From Suffolk, East Anglian Archaeology 84, Ipswich, 1998, item 149(2"). 93 grams, 13.5cm (5 1/4"). Found Suffolk, UK, before 2013. Very fine condition.

8th-4th century BC. A bronze lance head with hollow midrib and lanceolate blade; believed to be one of the largest British examples of the late Bronze Age/early Iron Age ever found; some wood still inside socket and traces of ancient repair around neck of socket. Cf. Evans, J. The Ancient Bronze Implements, Weapons and Ornaments of Great Britain and Ireland, London, 1881, item 378 for type. 420 grams, 38.5cm (15 1/4"). The Chris Rudd collection, Norfolk, UK; formed since the 1970s; found near Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, UK, c. 2015; accompanied by Chris Rudd collector's ticket for item BA25, and various offprints and a communication from the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS"). Chris Rudd says: 'Hafts were usually proportionate in length to the size of the lance-head; so one might surmise a total length of about seven feet for this lance. I call it a ‘lance’ rather than a spear or javelin, because I fancy it would have been too long and unwieldy as a throwing spear. Ideal however to be carried on horseback, as illustrated by the late iron age cavalryman seen on a Catuvellaunian silver coin of Tasciovanos (ABC 2640), issued 20BC-AD10. Milton Keynes, Bucks., where this colossal lance-head was found, was formerly within the territory of the Catuvellauni whose name means ‘Men who Excel in Battle’. Reported to Bucks FLO, Arwen Wood, also Brett Thorn and Tabatha Barton of Bucks County Museum.' Very fine condition. Extremely rare in this size.

8th-9th century AD. A silver finger ring with plain penannular hoop supporting a square cup bezel, inset turquoise cloison with four-line Umayyad Kufic inscription. Cf. Chadour, A.B. Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, volume I, Leeds, 1994, item 522 for type. 5.59 grams, 24.30mm overall, 18.91mm internal diameter (approximate size British N 1/2, USA 6 3/4, Europe 14.35, Japan 13) (1"). From the family collection of a Hampstead gentleman; formerly acquired in the 1980s. Fine condition.

2nd-4th century AD. A carved schist head of Bodhisattva Maitreya with urna to the brow, deep-set eyes, small curled moustache, band of curls above the brow and hair gathered and looped above, long pendant earrings; mounted on a custom-made stand. Cf.Jongeward, D. Buddhist Art of Gandhara in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, 2018, item 77 for type. 4.6 kg total, 30cm with stand (11 3/4"). Property of a North West London gallery; formerly in a 1980s collection. Fine condition.

6th century AD. A silver-gilt plate brooch with central cabochon garnet and zigzag border, radiating pairs of profile bird-heads each with a round cell and inset garnet cloison eye; lug and catch to the reverse. Cf. Heeren, S. & vam der Feijst, L. Fibulae uit de Lage Landen. Beschrijving, Analyse en Interpretatie van een Archeologische Vondstcategorie, Amersfoort, 2017, item 89i. 20.7 grams, 35mm (1 1/2"). Property of a gentleman; acquired in the late 1960s-early 1970s. Fine condition.

1st century AD. A bronze statuette of Priapus standing naked, wearing only a short cloak arranged like an exomis on his left shoulder, holding the robe from the corners, exposing his exaggerated genitalia under an offering of flowers, an egg in his right hand, finely-detailed head with the hairstyle and beard of a Greek philosopher; in lifting his cloak, he reveals his enormous phallus, creating a vivid connection between fertility and abundance. See Rolland, H., Bronzes Antiques de Haute Provence, Paris, 1965, item 136; Dunleavy C.A., The Image of Priapus: Ambiguity and Masculinity in Roman Visual Culture, Bristol, 2018. 120 grams, 80mm (3"). Property of a South London collector; previously acquired on the European art market 1970-1980. Fine condition.

Early 16th century AD. A substantial and important gold signet ring comprising a D-section hoop, facetted shoulders and octagonal bezel; the underside with cable detailing, the shoulders with three swept flutes, each with a band of cinquefoil and foliage ornament; the bezel with intaglio ropework border enclosing an olive branch set horizontally above a heater shield depicting thereon an enigmatic merchant's mark comprising a central cross with crescent ends to top and side limbs, with lateral spur to the foot; the cross flanked to left by the a crescent with six-pointed star below and a larger six-pointed star to right; the six-pointed star appears as a mintmark on the coins of Henry VIII of the York mint for the period 1514-1526 AD and the crescent also at York mint (and Durham) similarly for the period 1526-1529 AD. See Rylands, J. Paul Merchants' marks and other medieval personal marks in Transactions of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, 1910 (copy of illustrations therefrom included); Boardman, J. & Scarisbrick, D. The Ralph Harari Collection of Finger Rings, London, 1977, item 167 for type; see de Ricci, Seymour, Catalogue of a Collection of Ancient Rings formed by the late E Guilhou, Paris, 1912 (reprinted"). 16.55 grams, 23.00mm overall, 18.03mm internal diameter (approximate size British O 1/2, USA 7 1/4, Europe 15.61, Japan 15) (1"). Found while searching with a metal detector in a private garden near Bridlington Priory, East Riding of Yorkshire, UK, by William Coultas on 15th March 2019; declared as Treasure under the Treasure Act 1996 with Treasure reference number 2019T326, subsequently disclaimed and returned to the finder after the local museum was found not to be in a position to acquire it; accompanied by copies of various documents pertaining to the find from the Treasure Registrar at the British Museum, and a copy of the Report to HM Coroner on the find by Adam Parker, plus a copy of the receipt from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport; also copies of the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report [YORYM-5DBF7D], an original copy of The Searcher magazine with an article on it's finding, and a photograph of the ring taken when it was found.PublishedThe Garden of Dreams, by Will Coultas in The Searcher magazine, no.406, June 2019, p.30; and also mentioned on the front cover.Bridlington Priory was an Augustinian priory in the diocese of York, founded in 1113 AD and dissolved during the Reformation (Dissolution of the Monasteries"). The site of the priory is now occupied by a parish church dedicated to St. Mary. Walter de Gant was the founder of what was one of the earliest Augustinian establishments in England, a double-house with a convent, confirmed in charters by King Henry I. An Anglo-Saxon church and nunnery had occupied the site before the Norman invasion. The first prior may have been called 'Guicheman', a Norman corruption of the English name 'Wickeman'. The priory enjoyed royal favour and owned lands across Yorkshire. Its Canons established a separate foundation, Newburgh Priory, in 1145 AD and King Stephen granted it the right to confiscate the property of felons and fugitives within the town, alongside dues from the harbour. In 1200 AD, John granted leave to hold a yearly fair in the town. During the Anarchy, the Canons were expelled and the buildings fortified by William le Gros, who later awarded it six manors, one at Boynton and the rest in Holderness. Henry IV awarded the priory the rectory of Scarborough. A royal licence to crenelate was granted by Richard II in 1388 AD but it seems that only the Baylegate of the four known entrances was fortified. The priory also had an extensive library, documented by John Leland, the 16th century antiquary and poet, shortly before its Dissolution in 1538 AD. The priory was a very wealthy institution with extensive landholdings across northern England. The church itself was an impressive building some 390 ft (about 120 m) in length with carved interior woodwork by William Brownflete. The fabric of the priory was largely destroyed, with the nave remaining to form the frame of the existing parish church. Medieval and Tudor merchant's marks such as this example were a non statutory system for identifying personal property or to confirm identity, separate from the hereditary heraldry used by noble families. These marks were used on seals attached to goods for identification purposes or for sealing documents, and the designs were sometimes displayed on a heater shield (as on the present ring) in a more formal context. The cinquefoils are identified by Adam Parker, Finds Liaison Officer for N&E Yorkshire as carnations, also known as 'pinks' and signifying 'betrothal'. A similar merchant's mark appears on the reverse of a ring in the de Guilhou collection, which also features a comparable cable design to the hoop, for which a 16th century date is suggested in Boardman and Scarisbrick. This ring is of very good quality with exceptional workmanship evident to all of its features; it would undoubtedly have been the property of a wealthy and important merchant; merchant marks are enigmatic and secretive by their nature and often hold punning references to personal names so, for example, the presence of an olive branch could suggest the name Oliver. Some studies of such marks have been undertaken since the 19th century in a few localities and archives but, to date, there seems to have been no attempt to carry out a systemic national study of this fascinating subject nor to compile a corpus of examples from museum collections and public records. Very fine condition; traces of niello fill to the cinquefoils. Very rare.

3rd-4th century AD. A bone and iron folding hunting knife (culter venatorius), the handle with an openwork representation of a mating scene between dogs, allowing the insertion of the short iron blade, the folding blade pivoted in the bone openwork handle. See Allason-Jones, L. & Miket, R. ,The Catalogue of Small Finds from South Shields Roman Fort, Newcastle, 1984, item 5.1 for type. 22.8 grams, 62mm (2 1/2"). Property of a South London collector; previously acquired on the European art market 1970-1980. Knives for hunting were generally made with the bronze or bone handles and iron blades, they could be straight, folding, or with swiveling handles. Small knives like our specimens were mainly used in hunting duties. Very fine condition.

2nd-3rd century AD. A carved schist figure of Buddha standing nimbate with loose sanghati mantle over his tunic, face with serene expression, urna to the brow and hair drawn up to the ushnisha with long slit ears; the base a rectangular pedestal with rosettes and figures; mounted on a custom-made stand. Cf. Jongeward, D. Buddhist Art of Gandhara in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, 2018, item 62. 13.3 kg total, 58cm with stand (23"). Property of a North London gentleman; acquired on the UK art market before 2000. Fine condition.

Later 4th century AD. A gold finger ring comprising a large ellipsoid bezel and tapering shoulders; the underside with ribbed section and twisted wire borders extending along the whole hoop and continuing along the edges of the bezel; the shoulders each with two sets of opposed S-scrolled filigree appliqués ornamented with granules between and to the centre of each spiral; replaced ellipsoid plaque with central inset panel, reserved with beaded rim and 'clasped-hands' motif. Cf. Ruseva-Slokoska, L. Roman Jewellery, Sofia, 1991, item 186. Recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme under reference SUR-05A704. Disclaimed under the Treasure Act, reference number 2019T407. 11.01 grams, 25.83mm overall, 20.42x15.04mm internal diameter (approximate size British L, USA 5 3/4, Europe 11.24, Japan 10) (1"). Found while searching with a metal detector in Houghton, near Stockbridge, Hampshire, UK, by Christopher Gladman on 18th April 2019; declared as Treasure under the Treasure Act 1996 with Treasure reference number 2019T407, subsequently disclaimed and returned to the finder after the local museum was found not to be in a position to acquire it; accompanied by copies of various documents pertaining to the find from the Assistant Treasure Registrar at the British Museum, and a copy of the Report to HM Coroner on the find by Dr Simon Maslin, and a copy of the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report [SUR-05A704], a copy of an article on the ring published in Treasure Hunting magazine, and a photograph of the ring taken when it was found. The motif of clasped hands was interpolated from contemporary parallels on later Roman rings where it is sometimes called iunctio dextrarum 'joining of right hands'. The motif continued in use into the medieval period where it is better known as mane in fede: 'hands [offered] in good faith'. The motif sometimes carries an association of a marriage contract or betrothal, while its wider meaning is confirmation and closure of a pact or contract. Fine condition; restored. A large wearable size.

Late Period, 664-332 BC. A substantial bronze statuette of Osiris standing with hands placed across the chest, holding a flail and crook; stud beneath the feet for attachment to a base. Cf. Andrews, C. Amulets of Ancient Egypt, London, 1994, item 12(d"). 2.4 kg, 30.5cm (12"). Property of a London collector; formerly with Pierre Berge & Associes, Paris, Archaelogie, 1 June 2012, lot 76 [restored head absent]. Fine condition.

4th century AD. A folding hunting knife (culter venatorius), the bone handle with an openwork representation of a crouched dog, allowing the insertion of the short iron blade, the folding blade pivoted in the openwork handle, the knife attached to a bronze chain suspended from a trilobate openwork bronze belt harness, through which the knife was attached to the cingulum. See Allason-Jones, L. & Miket, R., The Catalogue of Small Finds from South Shields Roman Fort, Newcastle, 1984, item 5.1 for similar typology. 36.4 grams, 18.7cm (7 1/4"). Property of a private collector; acquired before 1975. Knives for hunting were generally made with the bronze or bone handles and iron blades; they could be straight, folding, or with swivelling handles. Small knives like our specimens were mainly used in hunting duties, like illustrated in the hunting mosaic of 5th century AD kept in the Argos Museum, in Greece, on which late Roman hunters or soldiers are brandishing such kind of knives. Fine condition.

6th-7th century AD. A green glass small bowl or cup cut with concave relief bosses, eight to the upper row and six below, and similar foot. Cf. similar item in the Corning Museum of Glass, New York, under accession number 61.1.11. 335 grams, 11.4cm (4 1/2"). From the family collection of a Hampstead gentleman; formerly acquired in the 1980s. Fine condition, repaired.

3rd century AD. A carnelian gemstone with intaglio scene of a cockerel standing on the body of a fallen warrior with spear and cuirass, set into a later hollow-formed gold finger ring with cell to the bezel; accompanied by a museum-quality impression. Cf. Chadour, A.B. Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, volume I, Leeds, 1994, item 99 for type. 9.94 grams, 24.69mm overall, 16.34mm internal diameter (approximate size British L, USA 5 3/4, Europe 11.24, Japan 10) (1"). Property of a London lady; from her family collection formed in the 1970s. Fine condition; intaglio chipped.

Early 5th century AD. A substantial gold Keller type 6 crossbow brooch, decorated with seven red garnets; with hollow pentagonal-section crossbar, three eight-sided finials, openwork scrolled plaques flanking the deep kidney-shaped section bow, tubular footplate with openwork scooped edges; hinged pin and V-section catchplate to the reverse closed with a mounting in red garnet; the bow ornamented with three mountings of garnets on each side in cloisonné style, and decorated for all its length on the central rib by an imitation-pearl pattern, also visible on the beaded collars of the three eight-sided finials; original pin still in place. See Brunšmid, V., Kameni Spomenici Hrvatskoga Narodnoga Muzeja u Zagrebu (Gravestone monuments in the National Croatian Museum of Zagreb), in Vjesnik Hrvatskoga Arheoloskoga drustva, X, 1910; Levi Pisetzky, R.,Storia del costume in Italia, 5 voll., Milano, 1964-1969; Keller, E., Die Spätrömische Grabfunde in Südbayern, Munchener Beitrage zur Vor-und Frühgeschichte 14, Munchen, 1971; Arrhenius, B., Merovingian Garnet Jewellery, Göteborg, 1985; Hattatt, R. Iron Age and Roman Brooches, Oxford, 1985, item 507 for type; Beck, H. et al. Fibel und Fibeltracht, Berlin, 2000, fig.114 (2), 115(7); Schach Dörges, H. Züsammengespulte und vermengte Menschen’ in Archäeologischen Landesmuseum Baden-Wurttemberg, Die Alamannen Stuttgart, 2001, pp.79-102; Martin, M., Alamannen in Römische Heer’in Archäeologischen Landesmuseum Baden-Wurttemberg, Die Alamannen Stuttgart, 2001, pp.119-124; Mackreth, D.F., Brooches in Late Iron Age and Roman Britain, 2 volumes, Oxford, 2011; the item can be dated at the 5th century for analogies with similar brooches (Keller type 6, 1971, p.53), like three samples published by Mackreth (2011, cat.3.6, pl.142); these fibulae show a development on earlier types, consisting of a pin secured by another means to ensure that the brooch could not fall or be pulled off without considerable force; Mackreth references a gold specimen from the Moray Firth. The brooch is of remarkable quality and technical accomplishment, both in its manufacture and in the working of the gems. This kind of fibula, well known as a 'crossbow brooch', was used by the Roman army from the last quarter of the third century until the sixth century AD. It was a signifier of military status, and simpler specimens in bronze are often found in the graves of soldiers from the 4th and 5th century AD. More precious specimens, in gold or gilt, such as this example, were reserved for officers. 38.33 grams, 80mm (3"). Property of a Spanish collector; acquired from an old Spanish collection, 2008; accompanied by an academic report by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato. The brooch is of remarkable quality and technical accomplishment, both in its manufacture and in the cutting of the gemstones into angular pyramidal forms. This kind of fibula, well know as a 'crossbow brooch', was in use within the Roman army from the last quarter of the third century until the sixth century AD. It was an attribute of military status and simpler specimens in bronze are often found in the graves of soldiers of the 4th and 5th century AD. More precious specimens, in gold or gilded, such as this example were reserved for officers. Very fine condition. Rare.

1st century AD. A bronze handle formed as a broad loop with D-shaped flanged below, two smaller loops with ribs between, volute scroll attachment panel with median void; unfinished in La Tène style. Cf. Megaw, R.& V. Celtic Art. From its Beginnings to the Book of Kells, London, 1989, item 355. 89.4 grams, 10.8cm (4 1/4"). From a private UK collector; previously the property of an East Anglian collector. The mirror-handle is a close match for the example found at Great Chesterford, Essex, published in Megaw (1989) and elsewhere. [No Reserve] Fine condition.

2nd-early 3rd century AD. A silver finger ring with tapering shoulders, domed plaque with inset carnelian gemstone, intaglio bust of a horned and bearded male, probably Faunus; accompanied by a museum-quality impression. Cf. Chadour, A.B. Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, volume I, Leeds, 1994, item 353 for type. 14.12 grams, 25.18mm overall, 19.32mm internal diameter (approximate size British O, USA 7, Europe 14.98, Japan 14) (1"). Private collection, home counties, UK; acquired before 1980. Very fine condition. A large wearable size.

18th-19th century AD. A carved jade grip from a kard dagger with tiger-head(?) finial, pricked ears and slightly open mouth exposing openwork fangs; attachment spike below. Cf. Velanu, M. Antique Swords and Daggers, Atglen, 2006, item 4/4. 161 grams, 12.2cm (4 3/4"). From the family collection of a Hampstead gentleman; formerly acquired in the 1980s. Fine condition.

2nd millennium BC. A matched pair of silver pendants, each formed as two coiled ends of a rod with heart-shaped loop between forming a volute scroll. Cf. Aruz, J. Art of the First Cities. The Third Millennium B.C. from the Mediterranean to the Indus, New York, 2003, item 246. 107 grams total, 93mm each (3 3/4"). From a private collection, Lancashire, UK; acquired on the UK art market; previously in an early 1990s London collection. [2] Fine condition.

Mid 14th century AD. A German great helm of later type with the lower part missing, but still visible in its original shape; comprising five plates rivetted together: one plate forming the top, rivetted by fifteen iron studs; two forming the front part, the top occipital plate also rivetted by fifteen iron studs, nine of which are the same rivetted to the top; the lower facial plate still fastened with eight studs, two of them attaching a T-shaped nose-guard raising on the upper plate; the back upper plate fastened by twenty-four rivets, the lower nine ones also rivetting the lower plate; eight holes (two in the upper frontal plate, six in the upper back plate) are visible and were intended for the fixing of the internal padding system; the top of the helmet is convex; the visual system is divided into two parts, and on both left and right parts with remaining holes forming the ventilation system. See Boeheim W.,Handbuch der Waffenkunde. Das Waffenwesen in seiner historischen Entwickelung vom Beginn des Mittelalters bis zum Ende des 18. Jahrhunderts, Leipzig, 1890; Pierzak J. ?redniowieczne he?my garnczkowe na ziemiach polskich na tle zachodnioeuropejskim, Bytom, 2005; Wild W., Unter schrecklichem Knallen barsten die Mauern – Auf die Suche nach archäologischen Spuren von Erdbebenkatastrophen, in Mittelalter, 11, 2006, pp.145-164; Lüken S., Topfhelm, in Aufbruch in die Gotik. Der Magdeburger Dom und die späte Stauferzeit. Band II. Katalog, ed. Puhle, M. Lammert, N., Magdeburg-Mainz, 2009, p.376; Lüken S., Topfhelm, inBurg und Herrschaft, ed. Atzbach R., Lüken S., Ottomeyer H., Berlin-Dresden, 2010, p.74; Žákovský P., Hošek J., Cisár V., A unique finding of a great helm from the Dale?ín castle in Moravia, in Acta Militaria Mediaevalia, VIII, 2011, pp.91-125; the structure of the helm shows similarity with the helmets of Dargen (Žákovský, Hošek, Cisár, 2011, fig.9a) found at the Dargen Castle near Deerberg and kept today in the collections of the Berlin Zeughaus, dating back to the second half of the 13th century (Lüken, 2009, 376, cat. no.VI.13; 2010, 74, cat. no.3.11); with the helmet of Madeln Castle (Žákovský, Hošek,Cisár, 2011, fig.9a) found during the research in 1940, nowadays stored in the collections of the Liestal Museum, dated to the end of the 13th century, with a possible overlap into the turn of the following century, although the helm was probably buried during the devastating earthquake in 1356 AD during which Madeln Castle was destroyed (Wild, 2006, pp.146-147); and other helmets like the ones of Küssnach Castle, Bolzano and Tannenberg (Žákovský, Hošek, Cisár, 2011, figs.9c-9d-9e), dated, respectively at the second quarter of the 14th century, early 14th century and 1350 AD. This item also has parallels with the recently published five plate helmet from Dale?ín castle dated to 1340 AD (Žákovský, Hošek, Cisár, 2011, p.114"). 1.7 kg, 27cm (10 1/2").From an important private family collection of arms and armour; acquired on the European art market in the 1980s, and thence by descent; accompanied by an academic report by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato.This helm belongs to the category of the Great Helms made of five separate plates rivetted together. The chronological indicator for the Great Helms with five plates, suggested by Žákovský, Hošek, Cisár (2011, p.100), is the shape of the top occipital plate. This plate, flat in older helmets dated to 13th and early 14th century, is convex to hemispherical in the helmets made between 1320 and 1330 AD, followed by a conspicuous rib following the longitudinal axis of the plate. This is the case of the Dale?ín helmet and also of our specimen. The modification of the top occipital plate from flat to convex or hemispherical was better suited to deflecting potential blows of the opponent away, or perhaps responded to the fact that, since the beginning of the 14th century, lighter helmets were worn under the Great Helms to provide the wearer with more comfort, a generally better view and more peripheral vision.Fair condition. Extremely rare.

2nd-3rd century AD. A carved schist plaque with three tiers of acanthus leaves beneath horizontal bands with curled stalks and cinquefoil rosettes; central raised panel with standing figure of a female dancer standing with right hand placed behind the head and left hand on the hip; mounted on a custom-made stand. Cf. Jongeward, D. Buddhist Art of Gandhara in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, 2018, item 49 for type. 17 kg total, 42cm including stand (16 1/2"). Private collection, South West London; acquired before 2000. Fine condition.

16th-17th century AD. A gold finger ring with large disc bezel, beaded border with intaglio two-masted galleon under sail with cross beside each mast and hilt of a rapier in the poop deck. See Oman, C.C. British Rings 800-1914, London, 1974, item 45(c) for type. 11.87 grams, 21.58mm overall, 18.23mm internal diameter (approximate size British P, USA 7 1/2, Europe 16.23, Japan 15) (3/4"). From a private collection; formed 1965-1975. Very fine condition.

8th-9th century AD. A bronze lozengiform strap end with beast-head finial, applied silver panels with niello-filled La Tène-style Hiberno-Saxon ornament. Cf. Thomas, G. Late Anglo-Saxon and Viking Age Strap-Ends 750-1100: Part 1, Finds Research Group datasheet 32, Sleaford, 2007, item 1 for type. 8.4 grams, 46mm (1 3/4"). Formerly from the collection of Maurice Braham in the 1980s. Fine condition.

12th-13th century AD. A substantial gold finger ring comprising: lozenge pad to the underside with hatched cross motif, lozenge detailing to the sides; each shoulder formed as a stylised beast-head with granule eyes supporting a discoid cell with inset beryl(?) cabochon; central teardrop plaque with inset garnet cabochon in a claw setting with hatched exterior. Cf. Chadour, A.B. Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, volume I, Leeds, 1994, item 561 for type. 6.71 grams, 25.92mm overall, 22.38x19.06mm internal diameter (approximate size British V 1/2, USA 10 3/4, Europe 24.40, Japan 23) (1"). Property of a Richmond gentleman; part of his family collection formed before 1980; thence by descent. Very fine condition. A large wearable size.

1st-3rd century AD. A life-size solid bronze right hand in open position, the five fingers raised as a stop sign, the hand and finger lines well marked, detailed nails, a strong socketted circular opening for the insertion of the staff, joined by a fixing hole opened on the palm, possibly the top of a military standard or a cult object. Cf. a similar item from Martigny, in Zürich, Schweizerisches Landesmuseum, Inventory Nr. 41434, see Von Gonzenbach, V. Fides Exercituum, Eine Hand aus Vindonissa, in JberProVindon 1951/52,, pp.5 ff.,nachgedruckt in Von Gonzenbach, V., Schriften zu Vindonissa und seinen Truppen, in VGesVind 10 Basel 1991, pp.69 ff. 83f.; Toepfer K. M., Signa Militaria, Die römischen Feldzeichen in der Republik und im Prinzipat, Mainz, 2011, catalogue n. NZ 52. 1.2 kg, 22.5cm (9"). Property of a London gentleman; acquired London art market, 2000s. This item can be interpreted in two possible ways, It may have been used as the top of a military standard (signia), carried at the head of a century. The image of a hand with phalerae in shape of a patera is attested in a military context, such as the signia of Alexandrus, represented on his stela from Ramleh, in Bulak (Nicopolis, near Alexandria"). An open left and right hand are at the top of two standards decorated with seven phalerae. Alexandrus was a Macedonian Roman citizen, serving in the Legio II Trajana Fortis (Toepfer, 2011, pl.112, nr. SD68"). Conversely, Toepfer suggests that similar bronze hands were maybe too small for an attachment at the top of a massive military standard, they had no noble -metal coating and differed from the hands shown in representations (the fingers being significantly less extended), so they were maybe intended for cult use. Fine condition. Rare.

3rd century AD. A substantial pendant formed as a graduated pyramid of hollow-formed gold bulbs with twisted filigree straps, ribbed drum-shaped collar and suspension loop. Cf. Ruseva-Slokoska, L. Roman Jewellery, Sofia, 1991, item 33 for a smaller example of the type used as a dangle for an earring. 12.65 grams, 78mm (3"). Property of a London gentleman; acquired by his father in the 1970s; thence by descent. Very fine condition.

2nd-3rd century AD. A mould-blown flask with elliptical body, short neck and thick everted rim in amber-tinted glass, the body with modelled wrinkles to resemble a date. See Whitehouse, D. Roman Glass in the Corning Museum of Glass, vol.2, New York, 2001, item 631 for type. 40.4 grams, 64mm (2 1/2"). From a private Netherlands collection; previously in an old collection since before 1980. Very fine condition.

2nd-4th century AD. Depicted in meditation with a contemplative expression, seated above a figural pedestal, this schist sculpture may have formed the centrepiece of an ensemble depicting one of Buddha's miracles; the Buddha sits nimbate with his hands placed palm-upwards in his lap; his ushnisha bears a miniature seated figure above a decorative band; the loosely draped robe reveals his slender torso strung with beaded necklaces and other ornaments; a lozengiform censer hangs from his fingers in front of his crossed legs; the pedestal base displays a scene of worship between tiered pillars; mounted on a custom-made stand. Exhibited at ‘The Buddha Image: Out of Uddiyana’, Tibet House, 22 West 15th Street, New York, 16 September-20 October 2010, extended to 16 November and again to 7 January 2011; accompanied by a copy of the main Tibet House exhibition press release which appeared in This Week in New York, featuring this piece as perhaps the single the most important item in the exhibition. 118 kg, 104cm including stand (41"). Acquired for the ‘Buckingham Collection’ by the late Nik Douglas (1944-2012), renowned author, curator and Asian art expert; the collection formed from the early 1960s to early 1970s; displayed at the major exhibition ‘The Buddha Image: Out of Uddiyana’, Tibet House, 22 West 15th Street, New York, 16 September-20 October 2010, extended to 16 November and again to 7 January 2011; where the collection of one hundred pieces was publicly valued at US$ 15M; this piece was scheduled to be included in an exhibition entitled ‘On the Silk Route; Birth of The Buddha’, to be held in London from November 2012, but sadly his death prevented this; accompanied by copies of several press releases and articles for the exhibition, including Artnet News, This Week in New York, Huffpost and Buddhist Art News. Accompanied by geologic report No. TL005263 by geologic consultant Dr R. L. Bonewitz. Dr Bonewitz notes: 'No definite source localities have been identified for the stones used by the Gandharan sculptors, but the predominant rock was an alumina-rich chloritoid-paragonite-muscovite-quartz schist, probably from Swat.' Very fine condition.

12th-10th century BC. A bronze Troy type sword or rapier blade, leaf-shaped in plan; the midrib extending to the short tang with curved lateral extensions to the shoulders, tang with flattened finial to accept the hilt. Cf. Branigan, K. Aegean Metalwork of the Early and Middle Bronze Age, Oxford, 1974, pl.11, item 483 ascribed to Troy (Anatolian Troad"). 391 grams, 54.5cm (21 1/2"). Property of a North West London gallery; formerly in a 1980s collection. Fine condition.

5th-6th century AD. A glass hemispherical cup with wheel-cut facets in five tiers, shallow indented base, rounded rim. Cf. Whitehouse, D. Sasanian and Post-Sasanian Glass in the Corning Museum of Glass, New York, 2005, item 46. 258 grams, 11.7cm (4 1/2"). From a private collection, Lancashire, UK; acquired on the UK art market; previously in an early 1990s London collection. Fine condition.

11th-12th century AD. A piriform clear glass jar with disc base and flared rim, relief-cut facetting and tendrils to the lower body. Cf. Whitehouse, D. Islamic Glass in the Corning Museum of Glass, vol.1, New York, 2010, item 522 for type. 235 grams, 18.1cm (7"). Property of a London gentleman; formerly with Mahboubian Gallery, London, UK; acquired before 1972. Fine condition, restored with later additions.

2nd-3rd century AD. The Buddha's experiences in the rural landscape are evinced in this carved schist frieze in which the teacher appears, facing a nimbate figure wearing a loosely draped robe hanging from his frame and with the long unwound end raised and looped around his right wrist; beside him a mahoot leads a team of two elephants, similarly simply dressed, while to his right a stocky bearded figures carries a sheaf on his left arm; a goat nibbles at the bark of a tree separating the first scene from the second in which three voluptuous females dote on the boyish nude Buddha; bands of undulating ornament above and below frame the imagery; mounted on a custom-made stand. Cf. Jongeward, D. Buddhist Art of Gandhara in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, 2018, item 52 for similar decorative framing to a frieze. Exhibited at ‘The Buddha Image: Out of Uddiyana’, Tibet House, 22 West 15th Street, New York, 16 September-20 October 2010, extended to 16 November and again to 7 January 2011; accompanied by a copy of the main Tibet House exhibition press release. 35.7 kg, 88cm wide including stand (34 1/2"). Acquired for the ‘Buckingham Collection’ by the late Nik Douglas (1944-2012), renowned author, curator and Asian art expert; the collection formed from the early 1960s to early 1970s; displayed at the major exhibition ‘The Buddha Image: Out of Uddiyana’, Tibet House, 22 West 15th Street, New York, 16 September-20 October 2010, extended to 16 November and again to 7 January 2011; where the collection of one hundred pieces was publicly valued at US$ 15M; this piece was scheduled to be included in an exhibition entitled ‘On the Silk Route; Birth of The Buddha’, to be held in London from November 2012, but sadly his death prevented this; accompanied by copies of several press releases and articles for the exhibition, including Artnet News, This Week in New York, Huffpost and Buddhist Art News. Fine condition.

5th-6th century AD. A silver-gilt bird brooch with chip-carved bands, inset hatched foil backed garnet cloisons to the eyes and body, catch and sprung pin to the reverse. Cf. Beck, H. et al. Fibel und Fibeltracht, Berlin, 2000, item 468; similar brooches from the Frankish cemetery at Monceau-le-Neuf-et-Faucouzy, deptn Aisne, France in Menghin, W. The Merovingian Period. Europe Without Borders, item VII.23.2; and the S-fibula from Schwarz-Rheindorf, Westphalia, in Menghin, W. The Merovingian Period. Europe Without Borders, item VII.48.27. 6.3 grams, 28mm (1"). From an important private family collection; acquired on the European art market in the 1980s, and thence by descent. During the mid-sixth century the S-brooch, along with the disc brooch, became popular. These were made primarily of gilded silver embellished with garnet inlays or in garnet cloisonné. Early forms of S-shaped brooches appear in graves in Scandinavia throughout the fifth century and in Europe during the first decades of the sixth century, and reached the height of their popularity during the latter half of that time. They have a wide spread across Europe and are found in central and western Europe, Italy, Scandinavia and Anglo-Saxon England. They generally take the form of an S-shaped body with heads at either end facing in opposite directions. The heads are generally depicted as birds but examples are known of unidentified animals with splayed open jaws, possibly dragons or wolves. The use of the head imagery is consistent with the aesthetic tendencies associated with the northern, Pagan Germanic world. Very fine condition.

6th century AD. A gold finger ring comprising a broad hoop with three beaded fillets to the outer face, arcaded architectural model to the bezel with granule detailing, pyramidal roof, square cell with inset garnet cloison. Cf. Hadjadj, R. Bagues Merovingiennes - Gaul du Nord, Paris, 2007, item 393 (Grez-Doiceau"). 7.56 grams, 35mm overall, 20.42mm internal diameter (approximate size British V, USA 10 1/2, Europe 23.99, Japan 23) (1 1/2"). Property of a London collector, acquired early 1990s. Fine condition. A large wearable size.

2nd-4th century AD. A rare, beautiful, rectangular-shaped redware platter (lanx) with scalloped edges to the short sides; the centre concave to contain food, mostly likely a seafood such as oysters or mussels, judging from the shape; incised scroll and linear details to the flat top. See Grocock, C., Grainger S. Apicius: A Critical Edition with an Introduction and English Translation, Devon, 2006. 879 grams, 33cm (13"). From the private collection of John Lawton collection, Surrey, UK; formerly in a Cambridge collection since the 1990s; accompanied by a collection sheet. This item was made to be used at the table by an ordinary Roman household, and would have been ideal for laying out appetisers (the course called gustum) like cold meat or small fish around the rim, or to bring the famous fish sauce called garum, made, according to Pliny the Elder, from 'intestinis piscium ceterisque quae abicienda sint sale maceratis' ('from the innards of fish and the refuse that will be otherwise thrown away, mixed with salt', HN,31,93"). Very fine condition.

3rd century AD. An ellipsoid jasper gemstone with intaglio female portrait bust in profile, with tiered hairstyle and palla clasped below the throat, large dress pin with dangles; set in a later sympathetic gold finger ring with crenellated edge to the plaque and vertical ribbing, tiered central cell with raised flange to compensate for the chipped edge of the intaglio; accompanied by a museum-quality impression. Cf. Ruseva-Slokoska, L. Roman Jewellery, Sofia, 1991, item 211 for type. 24.55 grams, 27.34mm overall, 21.17mm internal diameter (approximate size British T, USA 9 1/2, Europe 21.26, Japan 20) (1"). Private collection, home counties, UK; acquired before 1980. Very fine condition. A large wearable size.

Later 2nd-3rd century AD. A silver spoon comprising a shallow discoid bowl with stepped rim, scrolled neck and rectangular plate with chamfered upper face, square-section handle with three-pronged end and crescent finial. Cf. Riha, E. & Stern, W.B. Die Römischen Löffel aus Augst und Kaiseraugst, Forschungen in Augst 5, Augst, 1982, item 116 for type. 31.7 grams, 19cm (7 1/2"). Private collection, South West London; acquired before 2000. Fine condition.

2nd-3rd century AD. Of imposing size and presence while retaining Buddha's serenity, this carved larger than life-size schist head shows Gandharan sculpture's Graeco-Roman legacy; the naturalistic carving of the facial features from ridged eyebrows to rounded chin; the locks of hair flow in sinuous symmetrical waves from the widow's peak to the dome of his ushnisha; the ears are shown long with looped earrings drawing the lobes down towards the neck; the urna sits in low relief above the nasal ridge; mounted on a custom-made stand. Cf. Jongeward, D. Buddhist Art of Gandhara in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, 2018, item 70. Exhibited at ‘The Buddha Image: Out of Uddiyana’, Tibet House, 22 West 15th Street, New York, 16 September-20 October 2010, extended to 16 November and again to 7 January 2011; accompanied by a copy of the main Tibet House exhibition press release which shows an image of several of the most important items in the exhibition, including this piece which is first on the left. 32.3 kg, 60cm including stand (23 1/2"). Acquired for the ‘Buckingham Collection’ by the late Nik Douglas (1944-2012), renowned author, curator and Asian art expert; the collection formed from the early 1960s to early 1970s; displayed at the major exhibition ‘The Buddha Image: Out of Uddiyana’, Tibet House, 22 West 15th Street, New York, 16 September-20 October 2010, extended to 16 November and again to 7 January 2011; where the collection of one hundred pieces was publicly valued at US$ 15M; this piece was scheduled to be included in an exhibition entitled ‘On the Silk Route; Birth of The Buddha’, to be held in London from November 2012, but sadly his death prevented this; accompanied by copies of several press releases and articles for the exhibition, including Artnet News, This Week in New York, Huffpost and Buddhist Art News. Accompanied by geologic report No. TL005265 by geologic consultant Dr R. L. Bonewitz. Dr Bonewitz notes: 'No definite source localities have been identified for the stones used by the Gandharan sculptors, but the predominant rock was an alumina-rich chloritoid-paragonite-muscovite-quartz schist, probably from Swat.' Very fine condition, chipped.

New Kingdom, 1550-1070 BC. A composition scarab with cartouche of Tuthmosis III to the underside, set into a later hollow-formed gold finger ring with swivel-mounted bezel. Cf. Chadour, A.B. Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, volume I, Leeds, 1994, item 34 for type. 7.55 grams, 29.29mm overall, 20.98mm internal diameter (approximate size British S, USA 9, Europe 20, Japan 19) (1 1/4"). Previously in a private UK collection. Very fine condition.

1st century AD. A finger from a life-size Roman bronze statue, possibly from an Imperial statue at Verulamium (St Albans, Hertfordshire"). Cf. Toynbee, J.M.C. Art in Britain Under the Romans, Oxford, 1964, pl.IV for the bronze head of Claudius recovered from the River Alne, Suffolk, its deposition popularly associated with the Boudican Revolt of AD 61; see also Beutler, F. et al. Der Adler Roms. Carnuntum und der Armee der Cäsaren, Bad-Deutsch Altenberg, 2017, item 26. Reported to FLO Matthew Fittock, PAS: BH-089D64. 125 grams, 65mm (2 1/2"). The Chris Rudd collection, Norfolk, UK; formed since the 1970s; found St Albans (near the road to the south of the amphitheatre), UK, in the late 1970s; accompanied by Chris Rudd collector's notes and ticket for item RB2, and various communications with the British and St. Albans Museums, and offprints pursuing the possibility that this finger could be from the same statue of Claudius as the famous head found in the River Alde, Suffolk, in 1907 and now in Colchester Museum; and a copy of the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report number BH-0B9D64. Fine condition. An extremely rare British find.

Early 6th century AD. A large silver ritual or baptismal spoon with deep piriform bowl, chamfered rim and incised expanding-arm cross, flange to the underside and disc joint to a twisted bar handle with baluster finial. Cf. Wamser, L. Die Welt von Byzanz - Europas Östliches Erbe, München, 2004, item 909 for type. 80 grams, 26cm (101/4"). Property of a London collector, acquired early 1990s. Fine condition.