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Click here to subscribeA standing mannequin wear Parachute Regiment jump jacket, camouflage helmet and dummy parachute pack with field dressings etc *The 1942 Pattern Gabardine Jump Jacket was almost directly copied from an item in use at the beginning of the war with the German Parachute Forces. This fly-fronted smock or 'jump-jacket' was intended to be worn by personnel of the British Airborne Forces both for training and for active service.
12th-10th century BC. A very long Troy type Bronze Age rapier with narrow triangular blade, thick rounded midrib, rounded tip, scooped shoulders with lateral flanges, round-section tang with flattened finial to accept the hilt. 465 grams, 57.5cm (22 3/4"). London private collection, acquired 1980s. Cf. Branigan, K. Aegean Metalwork of the Early and Middle Bronze Age, Oxford, 1974, plate 11, item 483 ascribed to Troy (Anatolian Troad"). Very fine condition.
9th-11th century AD. A substantial iron spearhead of Petersen's Type F, comprising a lentoid-section tongue-shaped blade with broad tip, deep shoulders, tapering octagonal-section pierced socket with collar; above each shoulder a round hole. 583 grams, 32.5cm (12 3/4"). Property of a London businessman, from his grandfather's collection formed after World War II; thence by descent 1972. Cf. Arbman, H. Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940, plate 7 item 3 (grave 624); see also Swanton, M.J. Spearheads of the Anglo-Saxon Settlements, London, 1973. The spearhead is heavy and robust with a large socket providing a secure attachment to the shaft, supplemented by a single hole to accept a pin. The two holes close to the lower edge are a rare feature, also found on an Anglo-Saxon spearhead from the cemetery at Welbeck Hill, Lincolnshire (Swanton, 1973, fig.82(e)"). There has been speculation that the holes accepted rings (one was present on the Welbeck Hill example) to which streamers may have been attached. Alternatively, the two rings may have supported the cross-bar of a military banner. Very fine condition, professionally cleaned and conserved. Rare.
9th-11th century AD. A long iron spearhead with lozenge-section tapering blade, short neck, long flared closed socket with fixing hole. 351 grams, 34.5cm (13 1/2"). Property of a London businessman, from his grandfather's collection formed after World War II; thence by descent 1972. Cf. Arbman, H. Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940, plate 8, item 10. Extremely fine condition, professionally conserved.
9th-11th century AD. An iron spearhead with lentoid-section tapering blade and midrib, short neck, long flared closed socket with fixing hole. 331 grams, 29cm (11 1/2"). Property of a London businessman, from his grandfather's collection formed after World War II; thence by descent 1972. Cf. Arbman, H. Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940, plate 8, item 10. Extremely fine condition, professionally conserved.
2nd-1st century BC. A hand-forged iron spearhead with slender leaf-shaped blade and sharp midrib, sharply tapered point, tapering socket with two lateral piercings; ritually bent into an S-curve before votive deposition. 340 grams, 50cm (19 3/4"). Property of a gentleman; acquired in the late 1960s-early 1970s. Cf. Stead, I. & Rigby, V. The Morel Collection. Iron Age Antiquities from Champagne in the British Museum, London, 1999, item 1637. The practice of ritual destruction of weapons is found across Northern and Central Europe from the Bronze Age onwards. Spears bent into an S-shaped profile are a feature of La Tène societies from the last centuries BC. The reasoning behind the practice is not understood in detail, but appears to be connected to the idea that the weapon has a personality of its own which needed to be released through ceremonial destruction on the death of its owner. Fine condition.
2nd millennium BC. A bronze axehead with tapering socket, crescent 'blade' and rear flange; the socket with beaded edge, lentoid eye to each broad face, scooped upper edge; the crescent 'blade' with raised outer rim, beaded edge; the rear flange S-curved with widening lower end. 340 grams, 18.5cm (7 1/4"). Fine conditon. Property of a London collector, acquired early 1990s. Cf. Godard, F. The Art of Iran, London, 1965, item 83 and discussion in Muscarella, O.W. Bronze and Iron. Ancient Near Eastern Artifacts in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1988, p.235-7.
3rd-early 2nd millennium BC. A bronze axehead with rounded butt, vertical socket with C-shaped rim above and below, slender lentoid-section blade with rounded expanding edge. 175 grams, 10cm (4"). Fine condition. Private collection, Cambridgeshire, UK; acquired prior to 2000. Cf. Godard, F. The Art of Iran, London, 1965, item 80.
9th-11th century AD. An iron axehead with triangular-section blade, narrow neck widening to a broad bevelled edge with square chin, spur beneath and hole to the centre, socket with small lateral flanges and long rectangular extension to the rear. 324 grams, 14cm (5 1/2"). Very fine condition, professioanlly cleaned and conserved. Property of a London businessman, from his grandfather's collection formed after World War II; thence by descent 1972. Cf. Sedov, B.B. Finno-Ugri i Balti v Epokhi Srednevekovija, Moscow, 1987, plate XLIII, item 13.
9th-11th century AD. An iron axehead with triangular-section blade widening to a broad bevelled edge with central hole, square chin and spur to the underside, socket with lateral flanges and long plaque to the rear. 318 grams, 15.5cm (6").Extremely fine condition, professionally conserved. Property of a London businessman, from his grandfather's collection formed after World War II; thence by descent 1972. Cf. Sedov, B.B. Finno-Ugri i Balti v Epokhi Srednevekovija, Moscow, 1987, plate XC, item 27.
9th-11th century AD. An iron axehead with triangular-section blade widening to a broad bevelled edge with square chin and spur, socket with small lateral flanges and long rectangular extension to the rear. 945 grams, 19.5cm (7 3/4").Very fine condition, professionally cleaned and conserved. Property of a London businessman, from his grandfather's collection formed after World War II; thence by descent 1972. Cf. Sedov, B.B. Finno-Ugri i Balti v Epokhi Srednevekovija, Moscow, 1987, plate XLIII, item 13.
9th-11th century AD. An iron axehead with triangular-section blade, narrow neck widening to a broad bevelled edge with square chin and spur beneath, socket with small lateral flanges and long rectangular extension to the rear. 924 grams, 21cm (8 1/4").Very fine condition, professionally cleaned and conserved. Property of a London businessman, from his grandfather's collection formed after World War II; thence by descent 1972. Cf. Sedov, B.B. Finno-Ugri i Balti v Epokhi Srednevekovija, Moscow, 1987, plate XLIII, item 13.
9th-11th century AD. An iron axehead with triangular-section blade, narrow neck widening to a broad bevelled edge with square chin and hole to the centre, socket with small lateral flanges and long rectangular extension to the rear. 439 grams, 16cm (6 1/4").Very fine condition, professionally cleaned and conserved. Property of a London businessman, from his grandfather's collection formed after World War II; thence by descent 1972. Cf. Sedov, B.B. Finno-Ugri i Balti v Epokhi Srednevekovija, Moscow, 1987, plate XLIII, item 13.
9th-11th century AD. An iron axehead with triangular-section blade widening to a broad bevelled edge with square chin, socket with small lateral flanges and long rectangular extension to the rear. 562 grams, 15cm (6").Very fine condition, professionally cleaned and conserved. Property of a London businessman, from his grandfather's collection formed after World War II; thence by descent 1972. Cf. Sedov, B.B. Finno-Ugri i Balti v Epokhi Srednevekovija, Moscow, 1987, plate XLIII, item 13.
9th-11th century AD. An iron axehead with triangular-section blade, narrow neck widening to a broad bevelled edge with square chin and spur to the rear, step to each face behind the edge, socket with small lateral flanges and long rectangular extension to the rear. 370 grams, 13.5cm (5 1/4").Very fine condition, professionally cleaned and conserved. Property of a London businessman, from his grandfather's collection formed after World War II; thence by descent 1972. Cf. Sedov, B.B. Finno-Ugri i Balti v Epokhi Srednevekovija, Moscow, 1987, plate XLIII, item 13.
9th-11th century AD. An iron axehead with triangular-section blade, narrow neck widening to a broad bevelled edge with chin and step to one face behind the edge, socket with small lateral flanges and long rectangular extension to the rear. 617 grams, 15.5cm (6").Very fine condition, professionally cleaned and conserved. Property of a London businessman, from his grandfather's collection formed after World War II; thence by descent 1972. Cf. Sedov, B.B. Finno-Ugri i Balti v Epokhi Srednevekovija, Moscow, 1987, plate XLIII, item 13.
9th-11th century AD. An iron axehead with triangular-section blade widening to a broad bevelled edge with square chin, socket with lateral flanges.Very fine condition, professionally cleaned and conserved. Property of a London businessman, from his grandfather's collection formed after World War II; thence by descent 1972. Cf. Sedov, B.B. Finno-Ugri i Balti v Epokhi Srednevekovija, Moscow, 1987, plate LIII, item 19.
9th-11th century AD. An iron axehead with triangular-section blade widening to a broad bevelled edge with spur to the underside, socket with flange to the rear. 540 grams, 13cm (5 1/4").Very fine condition, professionally cleaned and conserved. Property of a London businessman, from his grandfather's collection formed after World War II; thence by descent 1972. Cf. Sedov, B.B. Finno-Ugri i Balti v Epokhi Srednevekovija, Moscow, 1987, plate XC, item 27.
9th-11th century AD. An iron axehead with triangular-section blade widening to a broad bevelled edge, socket with flange to the rear. 429 grams, 14cm (5 1/2").Very fine condition, professionally cleaned and conserved. Property of a London businessman, from his grandfather's collection formed after World War II; thence by descent 1972. Cf. Sedov, B.B. Finno-Ugri i Balti v Epokhi Srednevekovija, Moscow, 1987, plate XC, item 27.
9th-11th century AD. A hand-forged iron axehead with triangular-section blade extending to a narrow curved edge, socket with lateral flanges and slightly domed hammer extension to the rear. 822 grams, 17cm (6 3/4").Very fine condition, professionally cleaned and conserved. Property of a London businessman, from his grandfather's collection formed after World War II; thence by descent 1972. Cf. Sedov, B.B. Finno-Ugri i Balti v Epokhi Srednevekovija, Moscow, 1987, plate V, item 23.
9th-11th century AD. An iron axehead with triangular-section long blade extending to a narrow bevelled edge, socket with small lateral flanges and rectangular extension to the rear. 932 grams, 21.5cm (8 1/2").Very fine condition, professionally cleaned and conserved. Property of a London businessman, from his grandfather's collection formed after World War II; thence by descent 1972. Cf. Sedov, B.B. Finno-Ugri i Balti v Epokhi Srednevekovija, Moscow, 1987, plate V, item 23.
1st-2nd century AD. A bronze spur with curved plaque, lateral studs, openwork panel to the apex with hollow conical pierced spike. 20 grams, 55mm (2 1/4").[No Reserve] Fine condition. Property of a German collector; acquired in the 1990s . Cf. Allason-Jones, L. & Miket, R. The Catalogue of Small Finds from South Shields Roman Fort, Newcastle, 1984, item 3.685.
9th century AD. A flat-section gold cross with expanding arms, ribbed loop with three rows of beaded wire; to the centre a raised dome with beaded wire collar; to each arm a reserved Trewhiddle Style profile beast on a hatched field, with head turned to the rump, collar to the neck, one foreleg raised beside the head, one hindleg placed across the body towards the collar and the other raised above the rump; two with pellet eyes and two with lentoid eyes. 4.03 grams, 33mm (1 1/4"). Property of an East Sussex gentleman; acquired in the 1980s by his mother as part of a jewellery collection; by descent 2012. Supplied with a positive X-Ray Fluorescence metal analysis certificate. Cf. similar profile beasts in Webster, L. & Backhouse, J. The Making of England. Anglo-Saxon Art and Culture AD 600-900, London, 1991, item 191. Accompanied by an Art Loss Register certificate. Fine condition, some bending.
8th-12th century AD. A bronze Anglo-Saxon or slightly later figurine of a clean-shaven male in close-fitting cap, cowl and short-sleeved tunic; the right arm raised, the left hand lifting the hem of the tunic to expose the genitals; the cap and cowl decorated with small equal-arm cross, a T-shape and a ?-shape. 53 grams, 52mm (2"). Found on the site of a new housing development in Amberfield, Burgh-by-Sands, Carlisle, Cumbria, UK, in 1993 (Grid reference NY 328589"). Dickens, A., Mortimer, R. & Tipper, J. The Early Anglo-Saxon Settlement and Cemetery at Bloodmoor Hill, Carlton Colville, Suffolk, Anglo-Saxon Studies in Archaeology and History vol.13; Rolland, H. Bronzes Antiques de Haute Provence, Paris, 1965; Zarnecki, G., Holt, J. & Holland, T. English Romanesque Art 1066-1200, London, 1984. Recorded with the Carlisle museum services (item 191); accompanied by a print-out of the museum drawings and report. The museum's brief report offers a range of dating possibilities without reaching any firm conclusion. The cap and hood have parallels in Romano-British imagery from the area, and the general execution of the piece is consistent with Roman period bronze figures. The distinctive headgear might be a Phrygian cap, identifying the figure as the god Mithras, who was widely worshipped by the Roman military. The mithraeum at Brocolita (Carrawburgh fort on Hadrian's Wall) was built about 200 AD and is about 40 miles (60 km) from the figure's findspot. An alternative identification would be with the god Priapus, who is sometimes depicted raising his tunic to reveal his genitals while carrying food in the folds of cloth (e.g. the example in the Museum Calvet d'Avignon, published in Rolland, item 136"). An 8th-9th century Anglo-Saxon date for the piece has been suggested on the basis of the use of crosses on the headgear. Figures modelled in the round are however very rare in the Middle Anglo-Saxon period. There are a handful of pendant figurines and other items with exposed genitals (e.g. the dancing warrior on the Finglesham buckle, the Carlton Colville pendant (Dickens, Mortimer & Tipper)) but none is shown lifting a tunic and all date from the 6th-7th century. Robed figures modelled in the round do appear with the development of Romanesque styles in the later 11th century (e.g. the figure of a saint in the Yorkshire museum (Zarnecki, Holt & Holland, fig.226) and the censer-cover in the Steggles collection (ibid. item 261).) A medieval date (12th or 13th century) has also been advanced. There is a strong similarity between the lentoid-section formation of the figure's head and some items of 12th century statuary (e.g. the head of Christ from All Hallows, South Cerney, Gloucestershire now in the British Museum (Zarnecki, Holt & Holland, fig.115)) and the naturalistic pose, details of costume and fineness of casting do favour a 12th-13th century date range. Fine condition; lower legs, hands and part of cap absent. Excessively rare.
6th century AD. A bronze small-long bow brooch with square headplate and three pelta-shaped plaques with incised linear detailing, deep bow with chamfered ends, footplate with transverse ribbed collars, trapezoidal finial, pin-lug and catchplate to the reverse. 35 grams, 89mm (3 1/2"). Ex Kelway collection; formed between 1975 and 2015; found Lincolnshire, UK, prior to a Time Team dig on an important Iron Age and Roman site. Cf. MacGregor, A. & Bolick, E. A Summary Catalogue of the Anglo-Saxon Collections (Non-Ferrous Metals), Oxford, 1993, item 15.55. Recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme with reference number LIN-5411D2; accompanied by a print out of the PAS report. Extremely fine condition.
9th century AD. A bronze lozengiform plaque with four studs to the reverse, bast-head terminal to each angle, gilt face with looped interlace design around a central pellet. 11 grams, 34mm (1 1/2"). Property of a South Yorkshire collector; found South Yorkshire. Cf. similar form of plate brooch in Hattatt, R. Ancient Brooches and Other Artefacts, Oxford, 1989, item 1700. Very fine condition. Rare.
7th-8th century AD. A bronze mount comprising a cross with supporting flange to the reverse, loop to the lower face, surmounted by a bird modelled in the round; pellets to the cross face, recess to the underside. 38 grams, 50mm (2"). Property of a South Yorkshire collector; found South Yorkshire, UK. See Spink Coins of England & The United Kingdom: Pre-Decimal Issues, 51st edition, London, 2016 item 776, bird on cross with pellets. The motif of a bird perched on a cross is less common than that of a bird supporting a cross on its back. It appears on early sceatta coinage of the Primary Phase (circa 680-710 AD"). Very fine condition.
6th century AD. A rectangular bronze die with beaded edge, chip-carved chamfered border with an addorsed pair of Style I Tiermensch figures with three-strand bodies. 4.87 grams, 29mm (1 1/4"). Ex Kelway collection; formed between 1975 and 2015; found Lincolnshire, UK, prior to a Time Team dig on an important Iron Age and Roman site. Cf. MacGregor, A. & Bolick, E. A Summary Catalogue of the Anglo-Saxon Collections (Non-Ferrous Metals), Oxford, 1993, item 36.4 for type. [No Reserve] Very fine condition.
6th-7th century AD. A set of bronze bucket components comprising: three horizontal flat-section hoops; four vertical bands attached with rivets; a u-shaped channel for the rim held in place with six swagged strips; four plaques attached to the upper band and rim, each with split lower end and recurved bars ending in bird-heads, rows of annular punchmarks to the outer edges, two of these extending above rim-height to form the hinge-points for a double-thickness handle with similar punched decoration; mounted on a stave-built wooden reproduction bucket. 410 grams, 22cm with handle (8 1/2"). Found Suffolk, UK, in the 19th century. Cf. Hammond, B. British Artefacts. vol.1 - Early Anglo-Saxon, item 1.5.3-a; Cook, J. Early Anglo-Saxon Buckets: A Corpus of Copper Alloy and Iron-bound, Stave-Built Vessels (Oxford University School of Archaeology Monograph); Pollington, S., Kerr, L. & Hammond, B. Wayland's Work - Anglo-Saxon Art, Myth & Material Culture from the 4th to 7th century AD, p.280 and plate 57 b, c. Fittings of this type are found enclosing stave-built vessels in Anglo-Saxon graves, typically those of high-status females with rich costume accessories. The wood used for the body of the vessel was often yew. The 'buckets' form part of the assemblage of tableware for serving strong drink, which was one of the formal or ritual duties of the matriarch in the Anglo-Saxon social structure. Fine condition. Extremely rare.
6th century AD. A bronze small-long bow brooch with square headplate and three T-shaped flanges, deep bow with transverse ribbed ends, square footplate with lappets, D-section ribbed finial, pin-lug and catchplate to the reverse. 10 grams, 52mm (2"). [No Reserve] Very fine condition. Property of a Lancashire collector; acquired on the UK art market. Cf. MacGregor, A. & Bolick, E. A Summary Catalogue of the Anglo-Saxon Collections (Non-Ferrous Metals), Oxford, 1993, item 15.45 for type.
7th-9th century AD. A cast gilt-bronze cruciform mount with central flat-topped pyramid; incised scroll decoration to the arms and pyramidal faces; four attachment lugs to the reverse. 7.15 grams, 23mm (1").Fine condition. Acquired on the UK art market. Cf. cruciform mounts in Youngs, S. (ed.) The Work of Angels. Masterpieces of Celtic Metalwork, 6th-9th centuries AD, London, 1989, item 113.
11th century AD. A copper-alloy stirrup mount of Williams's Class B Type 3 Group 1, triangular upper section ribbed on the outer edges, main plate with a moulded bear's head with openwork ears; flange to the rear of the lower edge rivetted to the remains of the bracket. 32 grams, 48mm (2").Fine condition. Found near Eye, Norfolk, UK. Cf. Williams, D. Late Saxon Stirrup-Strap Mounts, CBA Research Report 111, London, 1997, item 427.
6th-7th century AD. A bronze strap-end formed as a tongue-shaped plate and square-section socket with attachment pin; the mouth of the socket ribbed; the interlace a continuous chain with Style II zoomorphic detail. 9.16 grams, 47mm (2").Fine condition, small casting flaws to one side. From a private collection formed in the 1990s. Cf. West, S. A Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Finds From Suffolk, East Anglian Archaeology 84, Ipswich, 1998, item 56 (1").
9th-11th century AD. A substantial round-section gold hoop, the upper section formed as two double-strands twisted. 22 grams, 33mm overall, 21.65mm internal diameter (approximate size British Y, USA 12, Europe 28.02, Japan 26) (1 1/4"). Ex Russian collection formed in the early 20th century. Cf. Hindman. S. et al. Toward an Art History of Medieval Rings: A Private Collection, London, 2007, item 14. Very fine condition. A large wearable size.
9th-11th century AD. A flat-section gold hoop formed from a single coiled rod with pellets to the outer face, narrow ends twisted round the shank. 6.92 grams, 24mm overall, 21.13mm internal diameter (approximate size British X, USA 11 1/2, Europe 26.29, Japan 25) (1"). Property of a London collector, acquired before 1980. Cf. Taylor, G. & Scarisbrick, D. Finger Rings from Ancient Egypt to the Present Day, Oxford, 1978, item 242 for type. Very fine condition. A large wearable size.
Late 9th-10th century AD. A Viking or Anglo-Scandinavian flat-section discoid silver plaque with incised niello-filled ornament, four of the original five domed bosses and plaque to the reverse; the field divided into an outer border and four intersecting rings; the border with running zigzag and notch to the inner edge; the rings reserved on a hatched background with fleshy acanthus-leaf and shell-spiral motifs to the spandrels, a zoomorph within each ring comprising: a serpent with double-looped body, lentoid markings, open jaws with forked tongue; an advancing stag(?) with spiral hips, forked tail and antlers, open mouth with lolling tongue, fillets above the paws; a triple-looped serpent with tridentine tail and tongue; a regardant stag with scrolled shoulder and hip, curled antlers, lolling tongue; to the reverse, an applied propeller-shaped plaque with running zigzag border, shell-spiral fill. 94 grams, 95mm (3 3/4"). Property of a Scottish gentleman; acquired from continental Europe in the late 1970s; gifted to his daughter in the early 1980s; thence by descent 2004. Supplied with a positive X-Ray Fluorescence metal analysis certificate. Cf. the Sutton, Isle of Ely brooch in Backhouse, J., Turner, D.H. & Webster, L. The Golden Age of Anglo-Saxon Art: 966-1066, London, 1984, item 105, and the Anglo-Saxon disc brooch in Statens Historiska Museum, Stockholm, item 17. Accompanied by an Art Loss Register certificate. The ornament is Anglo-Saxon with influence from contemporary (Ringerike style, 10th century) Scandinavian art, visible in the scrolled hips and other details of the zoomorphs.The brooch is closely similar in many respects to the example from Sutton, Isle of Ely, especially the zigzag border, intersecting ring-based layout, pairs of serpents and quadrupeds. The brooch shows signs of heavy usage wear prior to deposition including the loss of one boss. The plaque to the reverse is partial and shows fractures to each end, and incorporated the pin and catchplate; the Sutton brooch has a corresponding riveted panel with a short runic text, with an extensive Old English owner formula to the reverse. Fine condition, one boss absent, edge notched, rear plaque partly absent. Excessively rare.
9th-11th century AD. A large silver ring with granulation decoration; the high bezel domed and covered in a series of large applied granulations, chevron border below; large spherical granules to the outer edge of the bezel and trefoil granulation to the shoulders; the shank decorated with a two lines of chevrons separated by a plain rib. 20 grams, 23.88mm overall, 20.25mm internal diameter (approximate size British U 1/2, USA 10 1/2, Europe 20 1/4, Japan 22 3/4) (1"). From a European collection; formerly in an old Oriental collection; acquired 1960. Cf. Makarov, N.A. (ed.) Rus v IX-X Vekach: Archeologicheskaya Panorama Moscow, 2012, p.358, item 3. Very fine condition.
Late Period, 664-332 BC. A pale blue glazed composition amulet of Bes in feathered headdress, with dorsal pillar pierced in two places; mounted on a custom-made stand. 8.87 grams, 48mm including stand (2"). Fine condition. Property of an Essex lady; by gift, 2006; previously acquired Charles Ede, London, UK. See Thomas, A.P. Egyptian Gods and Myths,Aylesbury, 1986, for discussion. Egyptian Antiquities, Charles Ede Limited, 2006, item 26; supplied with copy of the entry. [No Reserve]
8th-10th century AD. A silver-gilt domed mound with scaphoid body and rosette finial, beaded border and raised pellets within; hollow to the underside with four attachment pins. 8.56 grams, 47mm (1 3/4"). Property of a UK gentleman; previously in a collection since before 2000. Cf. Sedov, B.B. Finno-Ugri i Balti v Epokhi Srednevekovija, Moscow, 1987, plate IX, item 34. [No Reserve] Fine condition.
9th century AD. A complete women's brooch, bead and pendant assemblage comprising: two bronze oval brooches, each domed with raised ornament, wide pierced flange, pin-lugs and catch to the reverse; two bronze omega-shaped suspension loops and three strands of graduated flame-worked glass beads mostly oblates or barrels, with coloured trailed decoration; three gilt-bronze discoid pendants, each with rosette of raised pellets and scrolls. 311 grams total, brooches: 68-70mm (2 3/4"). Property of a London businessman, from his grandfather's collection formed after World War II; thence by descent 1972. See MacGregor, A. et al. A Summary Catalogue of the Continental Archaeological Collections, Oxford, 1997, item 4 for oval brooches; Ewing, T. Viking Clothing, Stroud, 2007. [3] Very fine condition.
10th-11th century AD. A convex boar-head brooch with carinated upper face with rows of impressed dots, round-section posts to the upper corners; hole to the rear face to accept a chain, notch to the edge; backplate absent. 32 grams, 49mm (2"). Property of a London collector; acquired before 1990. Cf. MacGregor, A. et al. A Summary Catalogue of the Continental Archaeological Collections, Oxford, 1997, items 3.26, 3.27; Thunmark-Nylen, L. Die Wikingerzeit Gotlands I.: Abbildungen der Graubfunde, Stockholm, 1992, plate 1, item 2. Animal head brooches were some of the most popular types of Viking period dress decoration and were produced on the island of Gotland from the eighth to the twelfth centuries AD. They were worn at the shoulders with a round box brooch or disk brooch pinned at the centre of the chest. The identification of the animal has been variously suggested as horses and boars but the most popular idea is that they are bears, though all animals are sacred in Viking religion and could be valid identities. Fine condition.
9th-11th century AD. A round-section tapering gold hoop with ends coiled over the shank, separate narrow wire to the bezel. 7.29 grams, 23mm overall, 17.84mm internal diameter (approximate size British O 1/2, USA 7 1/2, Europe 15.76, Japan 15) (1").Very fine condition. Property of a London collector, acquired before 1980. Cf. Hindman. S. et al. Toward an Art History of Medieval Rings: A Private Collection, London, 2007, item 14 for type.
7th century AD. A matched pair of silver openwork bow brooches, each a D-shaped headplate with flat bow, addorsed horse-heads to the headplate with waisted knop extension above, lateral straps extending to discoid footplate with inverted horse-heads terminating the lateral straps, facing beast-head finial; one with pin-lugs to the reverse, the other with traces of these. 90 grams total, 10.5cm (4"). [2, No Reserve] Fair condition. Property of an American collector; acquired 1980-2000. Cf. Menghin, W. The Merovingian Period. Europe Without Borders, Berlin, 2007, Item III.20.2.
9th-11th century AD. A group of six silver filigree beads, composed of four separate beads joined together to form each one; each pierced and decorated with bordered lozenge pattern and central bead with double applied beaded dot running along the length. 12.27 grams total, 15mm each (1/2"). [6] Fine condition. From a European collection; formerly in an old Oriental collection; acquired 1960. Cf. Makarov, N.A. (ed.) Rus v IX-X Vekach: Archeologicheskaya Panorama, Moscow, 2012, p.332, item 12.
1st century BC-1st century AD. A bronze flat-section terret with keyhole void to the centre, thickened lugs flanking the lower extension; to each face a series of graduated triangular recesses with enamel fill, beaded outer edge. 67 grams, 67mm (2 3/4"). Fine condition. Ex Kelway collection; formed between 1975 and 2015; found Lincolnshire, UK. Cf. MacGregor, M. Early Celtic Art in North Britain, vol.2, Leicester, 1976, item 56 for type. Exhibited at The Collection for the Society of Antiquaries Exhibition 2009-2010, Lincoln Museum, Lincolnshire, UK, exhibition number 4. Recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme with reference number PAS-84FAE6; accompanied by a print out of the PAS report.
Third Intermediate Period, 1069-702 BC. A matched pair of bronze-framed alabaster mummy eye appliques, each with a black pupil. 104 grams total, main frames: 66mm (2 3/4"). Fair condition. Property of a London gentleman; acquired by his father in the 1970s; thence by descent. Cf. eye inserts in the wooden coffin of Djedkhonsefankh in Taylor, J.H. Death and the Afterlife in Ancient Egypt, London, 2001, item 172.
1st century AD. A pair of bronze figurines comprising: one slender with pellet eyes, ribbed helmet or hair, raised right arm, three pellets to the chest and abdomen, flared hips indicating saddle; one similar, detailed centre-parted hair, short-sleeved lorica squamata armour and flared skirt with pointille detail and fringe. 52 grams total, 46-63mm (1 3/4 - 2 1/2"). Fine condition; one leg absent. [2] Property of a Surrey collector; acquired in the early 1970s. Cf. Rolland, H. Bronzes Antiques de Haute Provence, Paris, 1965, item 457 for a more elaborate example of the tye.
1st century BC-1st century AD. A large bronze openwork plaque with D-section rim and mesh of trumpet and comma-leaf motifs in a regular layout; pierced in three places for attachment. 274 grams, 11cm (4 1/4"). Very fine condition. Property of a Surrey, UK, gentleman; formerly in a German collection; formed in the 1980s and 1990s. Cf. Mitten, D. and Doeringer, S. Master Bronzes from the Classical World, Mainz, 1967, p. 312, item 314b, for a similar example from the Seattle Art Museum, accession number CeTe 6.2.
Early 1st century AD. A substantial bronze discoid mount with a triskele of openwork La Tène inspired trumpet motifs within a stepped frame; pierced in three places for attachment; mounted on a custom-made stand. 306 grams including stand, 10.1cm (4"). Very fine condition. Property of an East London collector; acquired in the 1970s. Cf. Appels, A. & Laycock, S. Roman Buckles and Military Fittings, Witham, 2007, item AA9.6.
1st century BC-1st century AD. A bronze figurine of a horse standing with tail extended, one foreleg raised, notched mane, ring-and-dot eyes. 28 grams, 57mm (2 1/4"). [No Reserve] Fine condition. Property of a Surrey collector; acquired in the early 1970s. Cf. Rolland, H. Bronzes Antiques de Haute Provence, Paris, 1965, item 107.
1st century BC-2nd century AD. A mixed group of bronze brooches and fibulas comprising: a La Tène 1 fibula ‘Wessex Type’ (pin absent) with remains of iron spindle; a La Tène III, Hull type 19 fibula with openwork catch plate; a La Tène III fibula fragment with offset vertical decorative groove on upper section; a Nauheim-derivative type brooch (pin and spring absent); a La Tène II fibula; a composite brooch with dark enamel crescent and white enamel central lozenge (mostly lost), zoomorphic terminal, pin detached; a Colchester-type two-piece brooch with median ridge and tremolier ornament; a hinge-headed brooch with orange enamel (pin absent); a trumpet-headed 'fly' brooch with red enamel inlay and some tinning (pin absent); a plate brooch with pierced quatrefoil, some tinning and gilding, pellet detailing. 40 grams total, 40-46mm (1 1/2 - 1 3/4"). [12, No Reserve] Fine condition. Some rare types. All found at various sites in Essex, UK. Cf. Hattatt, R. Brooches of Antiquity, Oxford, 1987, item 724; Hattatt, R. Ancient Brooches and Other Artefacts, Oxford, 1989, item 1536, 1614.
1st century BC-1st century AD. A bronze garment fastener comprising a rectangular plaque with enamelled cells and slider to the reverse, L-shaped shank, teardrop finial with eccentric raised boss. 23 grams, 49mm (2"). [No Reserve] Fine condition. Ex Kelway collection; formed between 1975 and 2015; found Lincolnshire, UK, prior to a Time Team dig on an important Iron Age and Roman site. Cf. MacGregor, M. Early Celtic Art in North Britain, vol.2, Leicester, 1976, item 41.
1st century BC-1st century AD. A bronze cosmetic mortar, scaphoid in plan with lobed finials, serrated flange to the underside and two loops. 38 grams, 95mm (3 3/4"). [No Reserve] Fine condition; found in two sections. Ex Kelway collection; formed between 1975 and 2015; found Lincolnshire, UK, prior to a Time Team dig on an important Iron Age and Roman site. Cf. Mills, N. Celtic & Roman Artefacts, Witham, 2000, item C290.
3rd century AD. A gold D-section hoop with flared shoulders and scrolled edges, discoid plaque with inset carnelian cloison intaglio capricornus 'sea-goat' motif. 6.45 grams, 22mm overall, 17.54mm internal diameter (approximate size British O, USA 7, Europe 14.98, Japan 14) (1"). Extremely fine condition. Property of a Surrey collector; acquired in the early 1970s. Cf. Ruseva-Slokoska, L. Roman Jewellery, Sofia, 1991, item 230. The capricornus was the emblem of Legio II Augusta, deployed in Britain and responsible for the construction of Hadrian's Wall.
4th-5th century AD. A D-section gold hoop with raised borders, median beaded wire extending around the hoop and framing the bezel; opposed beaded wire scrolls forming an openwork outer face, inset modern gold foil panel with opposed male and female busts. 11 grams, 29mm overall, 18 x 21.70mm internal diameter (approximate size British Y, USA 12, Europe 28.05, Japan 27) (1 1/4"). Very fine condition. A large wearable size. Property of a gentleman; acquired in the late 1960s-early 1970s. Cf. Ruseva-Slokoska, L. Roman Jewellery, Sofia, 1991, item 186.
4th century AD. A gold crossbow brooch with hollow hexagonal-section crossbar, three onion-shaped bulbs, openwork scrolled plaques flanking the deep triangular-section bow, rectangular footplate with openwork scooped edges; hinged pin and D-section catchplate to the reverse; with possibly a later inscription to the bow in seriffed capitals 'FORTIBVS / FORTVNA FAV' (for Fortuna favet fortibus 'Fortune favours the brave'"). 18 grams, 60mm (2 1/2"). Very fine condition. From a private collection; formed 1965-1975. Cf. Hattatt, R. Brooches of Antiquity, Oxford, 1987, item 1268. For the Greeks and Romans fortune was more than just a concept and she was imagined as a goddess that you needed to keep on your side in case she turned against you. In Greece she was called Tyche and was believed to be the protector of cities across the Mediterranean, most famously depicted in the statue of the Tyche of Antioch which became the model for all other Greek cities. As well as affecting the fortune of entire cities the goddess also watched over individuals and images of her were popular in the shrines each household usually had. The Roman Fortuna was originally a fertility deity and due to contact with the Greeks she eventually took on the roles of the Greek goddess. At her sanctuary in Praeneste, a short distance from Rome, she was worshipped in a temple built on the model of the great Hellenistic royal palaces, where her primary role was the protector of newborn children. She is commonly depicted standing and holding a cornucopia, representing the abundance of good luck she could bring, and a rudder with which she could steer the course of an individuals life. She was commonly associated with the Imperial family and she was prayed to for the continued prosperity of the Emperor, and thus of the Empire as a whole.
3rd century AD. A hollow D-section gold hoop with expanding shoulders, discoid stepped plaque with inset cloison, intaglio design of Cupidi (Erotes) holding hands between columns with wreath below and fronds above; Greek legend to the outer edge 'E? / TY / XHO / C'. 6.48 grams, 23mm overall, 18.25mm internal diameter (approximate size British P 1/2, USA 8, Europe 17.15, Japan 16) (1"). Very fine condition. From an important collection, the property of a Mayfair gentleman; acquired in the 1980s. Cf. Ruseva-Slokoska, L. Roman Jewellery, Sofia, 1991, item 196.
3rd century AD. A gold D-section hoop with expanding shoulders, flat scaphoid plaque with inset carnelian, intaglio inscription 'VET / XI * CL / LEG'. 26 grams, 29mm overall, 14.26 x 18.35mm internal diameter (approximate size British F 1/2, USA 3 1/4, Europe 4.74, Japan 4) (1 1/4"). Extremely fine condition. A large wearable size. Property of a Surrey collector; acquired in the early 1970s. Cf. Ruseva-Slokoska, L. Roman Jewellery, Sofia, 1991, item 246. The ring was probably awarded to a veteran (VET) of Legio XI Claudia. In the 3rd century this legion took part in the contest between Emperor Gallienus and the Gallic Emperor Postumus, taking the side of Gallienus and receiving the titles Pia V Fidelis V and Pia VI Fidelis VI (Five times faithful and loyal and Six times faithful and loyal"). Elements of the legion fought in Egypt and Mauretania.
2nd-3rd century AD. A matched pair of gold earrings, each a hook with granule, domed plaque with crimped edge and inset garnet spherical bead, hollow pendant amphora with garnet finial. 6.47 grams total, 51mm (2"). Very fine condition. [2] From an important Mayfair, London, UK, collection; formed by the family in the 1970s. Cf. Ruseva-Slokoska, L. Roman Jewellery, Sofia, 1991, item 32a.
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