4th-7th century AD. A mixed group of gold miniature pendants formed as buckets or tankards, each a hollow body with beaded wire rim to the foot and lip, ribbed 'handle' suspension loop; one with applied filigree scrolls. See Khrapunov I. and Stylegar, F.A., Inter Ambo Maria, Contacts between Scandinavia and the Crimea in the Roman Period;and Бажан И, А., Каргапольцев С, Ю, 1989, Об одной категории украшений-амулетов римского времени в Восточной Европе, СА, No.3. 10 grams total, 9-12mm (1/4 - 1/2"). From the collection of a European gentleman living in South London; acquired 1970-1980. Pendants in the form of miniature buckets have been found in a number of pagan Anglo-Saxon and Viking contexts and are generally made of bronze or iron, with gold examples being rare; three gold examples were found with the hoard from Hoen, Norway. Bronze bucket amulets have been found at Driffield in Yorkshire, and Vimose bog in Denmark, among other places. In form they represent wooden buckets bound with bronze or iron bands which have been found in Anglo-Saxon and Viking graves and are believed to have held mead or ale and were used to replenish the cups from which warriors drank. As amulets, they probably represent the ecstatic power of alcoholic drink and the role of women as the dispensers of these precious beverages. [5] Very fine condition.
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2nd-1st millennium BC. A hoard of bronze axeheads comprising: (1) Palstave axehead, complete in extremely good condition, some patches of corrosion visible; flanges rising gradually from the butt, fusing to the stop bar above the septum; below the stop bar a raised triangle within a triangular depression; body narrow with triangular blade; cutting edge is complete except for small pockets of corrosion damage; casting seam partially visible but not prominent, raised ridges across the flange; blade tips complete; to one face linear striations from polishing. (2) Palstave axehead, complete in good condition, patches of corrosion; butt slightly damaged; flanges rising in a convex curve from the butt, fusing to the stop bar above the septum; body narrow and triangular blade; cutting edge complete except for corrosion and one blade tip absent; small sub-triangular depression below the stop bar. (3) Palstave axehead, complete in good condition, patches of corrosion; flanges rising in a convex curve from the butt, fusing to the stop bar above the septum with small sub-triangular depression just below the stop; butt corners slightly damaged, and small nick to the butt (ancient damage); casting flaw to one flange tip; body narrow, triangular blade with a small flare to the blade tip; cutting edge slightly asymmetrical (due to re-sharpening?"). (4) Palstave axehead, complete in good condition, patches of corrosion; flanges rising in a convex curve from the butt, fusing to the stop bar above the septum; small sub-triangular depression just below the stop; body narrow with triangular blade; partial casting seam remaining along each flange; edge with small chips along its length, blade slightly asymmetrical. (5) Palstave axehead, complete in good condition; flanges rising from the butt, fusing to the stop bar above the septum; below the stop bar a raised triangle within a triangular depression; body narrow with triangular blade; flange/side profile lozenge-shaped; damage to the butt end, flange tips and cutting edge. (6) Palstave axehead, complete in good condition; flanges rising a short distance from the butt to a rounded flange, fusing to the stop bar above the septum; below the stop bar a small sub-triangular depression at the top of the blade; triangular blade slightly asymmetrical (re-sharpened?); edge bevel visible towards the cutting edge, blade tips rounded (through use?); remains of casting flashes along the flange sides on the haft-end of the axe. (7) Palstave axehead, complete in good condition; flanges beginning a short distance from the butt end into a rounded flange, fusing to the stop bar above the septum; below the stop bar an indentation, roughly sub-triangular, at the top of the blade surface, leading to a triangular blade; short edge-bevel towards the cutting edge, slightly damaged with chips; blade slightly asymmetrical (due to re-sharpening?"). (8) Palstave axehead, complete in good condition; flanges rising from the butt end, fusing to the stop bar above the septum with U-shaped profile; triangular blade flaring slightly at the tips; small notches along the blade edge (ancient damage?"). (9) Palstave axehead, complete copper in good condition; flanges rising from the butt end and fusing to the stop bar; below the stop bar a small sub-triangular depression, body widening to a triangular blade; damage to the butt corners and small chips along the flange tips and the cutting edge; on one of the flange sides an irregular casting flaw ground down in prehistory. (10) Palstave axehead, complete in good condition; flanges rising from the butt end, fusing to the stop bar above the U-section septum; triangular blade rounded at the tips; below the stop bar a short indentation, roughly sub-triangular/rectangular; blade and cutting edge corroded, blade slightly asymmetrical (due to re-sharpening?"). See Evans, John, The Ancient Bronze Implements, Weapons and Ornaments of Great Britain and Ireland, London, 1881, pp.76-84 and figs.56-68 for similar types. See Portable Antiquities Scheme, reference PAS KENT-593613 (this find"). 4.8 kg total, 17-18cm (6 3/4 - 7"). Found near Manston, Kent, UK, 30 April 2017; subsequently returned to the finder in late 2018; accompanied by copies of the British Museum PAS report number KENT-593613, and Treasure Act documentation under Treasure Reference 2017 T459. We understand that the axes have been lightly cleaned by a professional conservator to remove soil only and a coat of incralac lacquer applied to protect the natural patination. [10] Fine condition. A rare opportunity to acquire a British Bronze Age Hoard with excessively rare decorated examples.
1st-2nd century AD. A finely detailed winged or possibly horned bronze phallic double looped pendant or mount, three dimensional with engraved detail of hair; the reverse with two pierced lugs; accompanied by a copy of the Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service Finds Report dated November 1998 comments: 'Phallic ornaments are a fairly common good luck / virility symbol, the association with bulls is common - adding extra male strength to the symbolism - and they are often but not exclusively associated with the Roman army'. See Colonel Fanin, The Royal Museum at Naples, Being Some Account of The Erotic Paintings, Bronzes, and Statues Contained in That Famous 'Cabinet of Secret', London, 1871; also, Hammond, Brett, Benet's Artefacts of England: Roman Edition, Essex, 2016, pp.254-255 and Johns, Catherine, Sex or Symbol, BM, London, 1989 for discussion and other examples. Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History, vol.XXXIX, pt.3, p.357, fig.94(I) and p.362 (this piece), accompanied by a copy of the relevant pages including drawings and text. 70 grams, 43mm wide (1 3/4"). Found near Sudbury, Suffolk, UK, in 1998; accompanied by a copy of the Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service Finds Report dated November 1998 (Arts Council England export approval has previously been granted"). [A video of this item is available to view on TimeLine Auctions website.] Very fine condition. Extremely rare.
3rd-7th century AD. A substantial iron-framed cavalry helmet formed as a hemispherical bowl with a broad band fore-and-aft, applied bronze reeded strips secured with decorative rivets, D-shaped lateral sheet silver panels with repoussé fish-scale detailing; the interior with panels and fragments in a matrix. See Grancsay, S.V. A Sasanian Chieftain's Helmet in The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, New Series, Vol. 21, No. 8 (April, 1963) for discussion; also Ahmad, S.N. A new Sasanian helmet in the Musee d’Art Classique de Mougins, in Historia i ?wiat, 2015. 2.3 kg, 17 x 24cm (6 3/4 x 9 1/2"). From the collection of a North London gentleman; acquired in the 1980s. Accompanied by a positive metallurgic analytical report, written by Metallurgist Dr. Brian Gilmour of the Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art, University of Oxford. The helmet's interior shows it has been constructed from bands and panels attached to an encircling browband, the most frequently encountered method for producing iron and bronze helmets in antiquity which persisted in eastern Europe and Western Asia until the early modern period. The fish-scale side panels are known from other Sassanian helmets, such as the examples in the Romische Germanische Zentralmuseum (Ahmad, fig. 7) and the Metropolitan Museum of Art (ibid., fig.6"). In plan, the helmet is more barrel-shaped than round, with distinct flattened faces to front and rear. This may have been intended to accommodate a separate arming cap or other form of inner protective layer. [A video of this item is available to view on TimeLine Auctions website.] Fine condition, some restoration. Rare.
5th-8th century AD. A socketted triangular-section iron francisca axehead with broad curved cutting edge and elliptical socket; mounted on a custom-made display stand. Cf. Nice, A. Revue Archéologique de Picardie: La Nécropole Mérovingienne de Goudelancourt-lès-Pierrepont (Aisne), Senlis, 2008, item S.311. 890 grams, axe: 14.5cm (5 3/4"). From the family collection of a South East London collector; formerly acquired in the late 1950s. Very fine condition, professionally cleaned and conserved. Rare.
1st century AD. A gold finger ring comprising a slender lentoid-section hoop, ellipsoid plaque with central cell, inset carnelian(?) gemstone, intaglio standing Telesphorus with cape. Cf. Ruseva-Slokoska, L. Roman Jewellery, Sofia, 1991, item 2137 for type. 6.89 grams, 24.35mm overall, 20.06mm internal diameter (approximate size British R, USA 8 1/2, Europe 18 3/4, Japan 18) (1"). From the collection of a European gentleman living in South London; acquired 1970-1980. Telesphorus was a son of Asclepius in Greek (Asia Minor) tradition, often found with his sister, Hygieia. He was depicted as a dwarf, his head always covered with a cowl, and he apparently represented recovery from illness. His name means the accomplisher or bringer of completion in Greek. His cult may have been introduced to Anatolia by Gaulish settlers, the Galatians, to whom St. Paul addressed one of his Epistles. Very fine condition. Rare.
9th-11th century AD. A large iron spearhead with leaf-shaped lentoid-section blade, long shoulders, flared socket with hole to accept attachment rivet; lateral triangular wings; mounted on a custom-made stand. Cf. Arbman, H. Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940, table 7(2) for type. 2.44 kg total, spearhead: 44cm including stand (17 1/4"). From the family collection of a South East London collector; formerly acquired in the late 1950s. Very fine condition, professionally cleaned and conserved. Very rare.
4th-3rd century BC. An iron dagger and associated scabbard; the dagger with carp's tongue blade, flared lower guard, rounded grip, hollow T-shaped pommel with four large rivets, silver inlay to the hollow lower guard; the scabbard with median projections to connect with the lower guard and two T-shaped cotton-reel attachment points for the belt or baldric, four discoid lateral buttons to the finial; the lower guard with panels of inlaid silver wire in lattice patterns with guilloche border, similar ropework and guilloche patterns to the waist, and lower body, cross-in-circle designs to the lateral buttons; the blade lentoid in section with midrib; Iberian workmanship. See Capwell, Dr. T. Knives, Daggers and Bayonets, London, 2009 for discussion. 344 grams total, 29.5cm (11 1/2"). Property of a Suffolk gentleman; acquired before 2000. Accompanied by a report of metallurgic analytical results, written by Metallurgist Dr. Brian Gilmour of the Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art, University of Oxford. The dagger and its elaborate sheath bear distinctive decoration in the technique later known as Tauschierarbeit when it reappeared in the early medieval period. The process involves laying out a design on the metal surface, then carefully incising a narrow (typically 0.5mm or less) slot into the surface. The slot is then further worked with a graving tool to enlarge the hollow inner faces, creating a wedge-shaped profile to the cut with the narrow edge at the top. The silver wire is then made slightly over-width for the slot's dimensions, placed over the slot and slowly worked down with a flat-faced hammer so that the displaced metal expands into the lower part of the slot and fills the void. The process is repeated for every separate line in the design. The four discoid buttons at the lower end of the scabbard are an unusual feature of this type with parallels in many Iron Age cultures of Europe. The two attachment studs would have passed through corresponding slits in a leather or woven textile belt or baldric. The designs chosen for the inlay are all geometrical, mostly based around concentric rectangles and lattice or guilloche patterns. The reverse of the scabbard and hilt are both undecorated because expensive and labour-intensive ornament was reserved for the surfaces which could be displayed. The ornament may have held some symbolic meaning which is no longer recoverable. The organic grip would have been carved to accommodate the fingers and to facilitate a firm hold on the hilt. [A video of this item is available to view on TimeLine Auctions website.] [2] Very fine condition. Rare.
Early Dynastic Period, early 3rd millennium BC. A slender vase with tapering body, everted rim, carved from fossiliferous black limestone containing numerous corals. 524 grams, 19cm (7 1/2"). From the private collection of a North West London lady; previously with a central London gallery; formerly acquired before 1990, supplied with geologic report No. TL005184, by geologic consultant Dr R. L. Bonewitz. A macehead made from the same rare limestone was auctioned at Christie's New York in 2009, lot 2. [A video of this item is available to view on TimeLine Auctions website.] Very fine condition. Extremely rare.
Late 2nd millennium BC. A bronze figure of a deity, seated frontal with joined legs and upright torso, right arm raised in a benediction gesture, left arm bent to hold an object in a fisted hand; wearing a short crown with rounded top with the remains of silver cladding, and a long dress with fringed border and decorated collar; narrow face with light features; peg extending from the rear and below the feet for insertion onto a throne; mounted on a custom-made stand. 1.7 kg total, 21cm including stand (8 1/4"). From an English private collection, 1973-2012; previously in the Hormann collection, Germany, 1946-1973; formerly with Elie Bustros, Beirut. [A video of this item is available to view on TimeLine Auctions website.] Fine condition. Rare.
8th-11th century AD. A bronze pendant in the form of of horse with mounted rider holding up a discoid object, possibly a shield, and a sword in other hand. Cf. Arbman, H. Birka I: Die Graber, Uppsala, 1940, pl.92, item 7. 5.49 grams, 34.5mm (1 1/4"). Property of a lady living in Kent, UK; formerly part of her grandfather's collection; acquired in Germany after WWII; thence by descent 2006. Fine condition. Rare.
6th century AD. A gold sword pommel and hilt comprising: tapering flat-section iron tang fragment; narrow scaphoid-section lower guard with two rows of billets and an arcade all executed in garnet cloisonné; two vertical rivets with domed ends and beaded wire collars; three-lobed pommel with beaded wire rims, geometric cloisonné design to each face and scale pattern to the narrow edge, four attachment pins with ribbed sleeves. 60 grams, 67mm wide (2 3/4"). Property of a private collector; acquired before 1975. [A video of this item is available to view on TimeLine Auctions website.] Very fine condition. Rare.
3rd-7th century AD. An iron sousser long-sword in its scabbard (wooden traces visible to the blade's surface); the blade slender and long (64cm tip to grip), two-edged and parallel-sided, lentoid in section with small rounded tip; two sheet-silver rectangular sleeves at the mouth and mid-point, each with rolled edges and a P-shaped lateral panel with suspension fitting for attachment to the sword belt (goti); similarly formed lower guard formed to slide behind the bow of the P-shaped panel, with rolled edges; tubular grip in two sections with bosses to the outer face; conical pommel with incised rosette detailing. Cf. Khorasani, M.M. Arms and Armour from Iran. The Bronze Age to the End of the Qajar Period, Tübingen, 2006, p.84-95. 906 grams, 77.5cm overall (30 1/2"). From the collection of a North London gentleman; acquired in the 1980s. Accompanied by a positive metallurgic analytical report, written by Metallurgist Dr. Brian Gilmour of the Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art, University of Oxford. The sword is of standard early Sassanian type depicted on rock carvings at e.g. Ardeshir, Shapur and Bahram but not well represented in the archaeological record. Influences on sword design include local Parthian traditions, earlier Assyrian weaponry, Scythian akenakes swords and even contact with Han Dynasty China (206 BC-220 AD) or cultures influenced by them. Fine condition, some restoration. Rare.
13th-14th century AD. A gold ring comprising a thick barrel-shaped hoop inscribed to the outer face; Malcolm Jones, Sheffield University, Dept. English Language & Linguistics, Senior Lecturer 1994-2009 and advisor to the British Museum and Portable Antiquities Scheme, says: 'This ring is inscribed with a posy in Anglo-French, i.e. the type of French written and spoken by the Norman French elite and the upper classes in post-Conquest England of the 12-15th centuries. Anglo-French is also the language of the conventions of Courtly Love, andthus common on items of late medieval English personal jewellery. The inscription on the present ring is incomplete, it lacks the end of the penultimate word and the final word altogether. From other examples (in the Victoria & Albert and British Museums) we know that the full posy is a rhyming couplet: IO : SVI : DE : DRVERIE : NE ? ME ? DV[NE: MIE] [“I am [given] out of love; on no account give me away”] (JE’s translation “do not give me away”, does not differ from the simple negative, “ne me dune pas”, but we do not have the usual ‘pas’ here, we have ‘mie’ and her translation does not convey the force of ‘mie’, which is a stronger negation, as if – in modern terms -- “do NOT give me away”! I have tried to convey this force with my rather old-fashioned “on no account” (!)).' See Evans, J. English Posies and Posy Rings, Oxford, 1931. 6.73 grams, 19.11mm overall, 15.27mm internal diameter (approximate size British I, USA 4 1/2, Europe 7.97, Japan 7) (3/4"). Property of a Wiltshire lady; acquired on the UK art market in the late 1960s-early 1970s. The full text, of which the present inscription is an abbreviation, appears in Evans (1931, p.2) 'IO SVI DE DRVERIE NE ME DVNE MIE' (I am a love-token, do not give me away"). [A video of this item is available to view on TimeLine Auctions website.] Fine condition. Rare.
Late 1st-mid 3rd century AD. A bronze terret comprising a hollow-formed base with eccentric ring above, transverse gusseted crescentic panel to the base. For a discussion of the typology of terrets see Leeds, E.T. Celtic Ornament in the British Isles, Oxford, 1933, p.118-126. 133 grams, 75mm (3"). Found East Anglia, UK; before 2000. Very fine condition. Rare.
9th-11th century AD. A penannular neck-ring formed from a square-section bar, twisted about its own axis to produce a spiral effect; tapering round-section terminals. 141 grams, 16.8cm (6 1/2"). Property of a North London gentleman; formerly in a Russian collection in the 1980s. Torcs or neck-rings, arm-rings and bracelets fashioned from gold are an ancient tradition in northern Europe, used to display both wealth and status. The torc was especially prized since it could be used as a prominent and highly visible means of displaying religious affiliation to the god of magic and warfare, Odin, who features in a myth where he sacrifices himself by hanging in order to gain access to the power of the runic script and the magic it contains. Devotees of the god, who included many of the leading kings, earls and chief warriors of Scandinavia, used the symbolism of the twisted torc as an emblem of the noose and thus of access to the god's powers of inspiration and knowledge of esoteric wisdom. Very fine condition. Rare.
10th-12th century AD. A knife with single-edged iron blade, crossguard and antler handle, decorated with stippled design; to one side two ravens, to the other a spiral pattern, triangular pattern to the sides. 75 grams, 19.5cm (7 3/4"). Property of a lady living in Kent, UK; formerly part of her grandfather's collection; acquired in Germany after WWII; thence by descent 2006. Fine condition. Rare.
9th-10th century AD. A complete drum brooch with central lozengiform knop to the domed upper face; the outer sidewall with panels of regularly spaced points, four tongue-shaped dividing panels with tremolier detailing extending beyond the upper rim; the upper face with cruciform bands, the quadrants filled with knots of three-strand bands; a separate baseplate with engraved tremolier frames and radiating arms, four attachment rivets, with a pin and catchplate. See MacGregor, A. et al. A Summary Catalogue of the Continental Archaeological Collections (Roman Iron Age, Migration Period, Early Medieval), Oxford, 1997, item 1.8; Rydh, H. Dosformiga Spännen från Vikingatiden, Stockholm, 1919. 84 grams, 51mm (2"). Property of a 19th century collector; thence by descent. Drum brooches (also called ‘box brooches’, Swedish Dosspännen) were a Scandinavian fashion of the Viking period, beginning in the late 8th century AD and featuring Oseberg style gripping-beast motifs. They remained popular throughout the period into the 11th century AD. They are especially associated with the island of Gotland, the crossroads of trade and traffic in the Baltic where a variety of cultural influences were felt. Occasional examples occur elsewhere in the area of Scandinavian power, plausibly associated with the movement of brides from Gotland to foreign homelands. The earliest (8th century) examples are high-quality multi-part castings with lavish use of gold, parcel-gilding and silver; by the later Viking age they appear in bronze and gilt bronze. The original artistic motifs also evolve into more geometric forms with increased use of knotwork. As a type, they are characterised by their discoid upper face divided into symmetrical quadrants often with openwork detail; cords and faux-ropework to the edges are a consistent feature of the design. Some feature a separate cast upper plate, and on others it is the baseplate which is separate, as on the present example; occasionally the central knop is also a separate casting. It has been suggested that drum brooches were used to hold small valuables, although this seems improbable – these were normally suspended from the girdle or necklace for display. They were most probably used to fasten the triangular shawl or mantle which covered the upper body, in the dress fashion which included the heavy hängerok dress which was worn outside the undershift; the hängerok was often of rich fabric with embroidered borders, and the metal jewellery and glass beads were used to add richness to the costume. It may be this type of brooch (or the tortoise form) which was referred to by the Arab traveller Ibn Fadlan when he mentioned that Rus women wore on their chests drum-shaped brooches of iron, copper, silver or gold, whose decoration indicated the wealth of their husbands. [A video of this item is available to view on TimeLine Auctions website.] Extremely fine condition. Extremely rare.
Gianni Penati ( Italian 20th Century ) Rare limited edition phototype process print entitled ' Black Labrador ' Printed in limited numbers 1 to 193 - 213 number copies on Fabriano hand made paper by Fratelli Alinari of Florence November 1978. The print being framed and glazed. Complete with the accompanying book entitled ' The Labrador's Challenge ' by Mario Soldati. Measures 63cms x 62cms
A stunning rare Cartier Gold Wash Basket with Strawberries being designed by Jane Hutcheson. A lovely gilt sterling silver gold wash basket set with enamelled strawberry and little white flowers set with green cabochons bouquetz. The basket is inscribed " Cartier Hand Made sterling ". Measures 8cms x 9cms wide x 5cms depth
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Interest (1807-1882) A fantastic and rare late 19th Century American large ormolu bronze desk paperweight in the form of an eagle having armorial plaque crest to front reading and depicting Portland ME Portland Headlight and Longfellows home. The eagle figurine raised on pedestal base with wings spread. Measures 13cm high.
A rare 19th century local interest Bristol related ' Clifton Rocks Railway ' opening day passenger token. The small token / medal showing the Clifton Rocks Railway to the front, with notation, and to the rear the text ' Issued To The Passengers On The Opening Day, March 11th 1893 '. Rare local interest medallion. Measures approx; 3.5cm wide.
A RARE AUSTRALIAN CARVED IVORY COAT OF ARMS (19th Century) , of pierced oval design, formed as a kangaroo and emu supporting a shield carved with four divided segments filled with symbols of a wheat sheaf, sailing ship, cattle and a sheep, all beneath a rising sun and contained within an elaborate scrollwork border, 5x5cm*This example pre-dates the official coat of arms and appears to be a variation of the 'Advance Australia' design by Charles Costantini.Another comparative coat of arms had been struck on 'Peace and Plenty' token coin in 1858 ** Please note that this lot contains ivory and is subject to CITES regulations when exporting outside of the EU. The United States Government has banned the import of ivory into the USA.
BOX 50 - MIXED SPIRITSFiasco Vodka BiancaVela VodkaV Gallery - Cucumber Premium Vodka Spirit DrinkCalvados Lecompte 5 AnsNaked GiN - small batch premium GiNIrving GinLa Guilde du Cognac - Saint Preuil - Grande Champagne - ExtraBodegas Fundador Terry PrimeroGrappa di Lambrusco RiservaSeagram's Blenders Pride WhiskyThe Tyrconnell 10 Year Old Port Cask Finish Single Malt Irish WhiskeyEagle Rare 10 YO Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
A Chinese blue and white plate, Kangxi, painted in the centre with flowers, beneath a panelled border enclosing flowers against a `cracked ice' ground, the underside of the rim painted with Buddhist emblems, six character mark, Precious object of rare jade among treasured vessels, 26cm. diameter.
GREAT BRITAIN STAMPS : 1960 International Postal Conference, Eastbourne, a special GPO presentation folder given at the Management Council of the Committee for Postal Studies. It includes Wilding issues, Castle high values, Regional issues, "Experimental" phosphor stamps together with a couple of covers. Superb condition & rare!
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209236 item(s)/page