We found 209236 price guide item(s) matching your search
There are 209236 lots that match your search criteria. Subscribe now to get instant access to the full price guide service.
Click here to subscribe- List
- Grid
-
209236 item(s)/page
![ROXBURGHE CLUB. - [Samuel BUTLER.] Sidneiana, being a Collection of Fragments relative to Sir Philip Sidney Knt. London: Will](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/ff976d54-a6f8-4580-86d4-ade200d972d5/52a6a5bd-90f6-4f0a-a5af-ade6000e38cd/468x382.jpg)
Lot 3571
ROXBURGHE CLUB. - [Samuel BUTLER.] Sidneiana, being a Collection of Fragments relative to Sir Philip Sidney Knt. London: William Nicol, 1837. Limited edition, 4to (273 x 192mm.) Folding facsimile frontispiece of Sidney's hand-writing, title in red and black, the 'Lord Bishop of Lichfield' [Samuel Butler] lettered in red on the members' list. (Toning, stitching broken, loose-leaves, spotting to blanks.) Contemporary black morocco-backed boards (worn). Note: being a keen collector of Sidney manuscripts, Butler put together this choice of rare and unseen material. This work was part of a 19th century re-appraisal of Sidney's reputation and this was Butler's own copy. Provenance: Samuel Butler (name in red on list of members).Buyer’s Premium 24.5% (including VAT @ 0%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 5% (including VAT @ 0%) of the hammer price.
Lot 3644
PALERMO. - Girolamo MATRANGA. Discorsi Sagri Accademici. Palermo: Decio Cirillo, 1645. 8vo (207 x 144mm.) Engraved device to title, engraved headpieces. (Lacking front blanks, some marginal damp-staining to preliminaries, marginal worm damage throughout, toning.) Contemporary limp vellum, manuscript lettering to spine (loss to top of spine, minor soiling). Note: rare. No copies recorded on Jisc. - And a further volume ('Novum Testamentum', 1679, 12mo) (2).Buyer’s Premium 24.5% (including VAT @ 0%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 5% (including VAT @ 0%) of the hammer price.
Lot 10
HERBAL MIXTURE - A LOVE THAT'S DIED 7" (ORIGINAL UK DEMO - COLUMBIA DB 8021). Another rare pre-Groundhogs cut with this original UK Columbia demo of A Love That's Died c/w Tailor Made. The record is in very sharp Ex condition showing just a couple of very light, small and minor surface marks. Lovely bright and clean labels. Housed with clean condition original company sleeve.
Lot 155
A very rare example of an original poster advertising a concert on June 3rd 1983 at 'The Fighting Cocks', Moseley, Birmingham with The Smiths and Passion Play. This version is red and measures 64 x 45cm. Strong VF condition. Originally from the collection of concert promoter 'Mint' who booked an amazing array of artists to perform at The Fighting Cocks and later at the Joiners, Southampton.
Lot 156
A very rare example of an original poster advertising a concert on June 3rd 1983 at 'The Fighting Cocks', Moseley, Birmingham with The Smiths and Passion Play. This version is blue and measures 64 x 45cm. Strong VF condition. Originally from the collection of concert promoter 'Mint' who booked an amazing array of artists to perform at The Fighting Cocks and later at the Joiners, Southampton.
Lot 170
A truly incredible example of a supremely rare Joy Division poster. This pristine example is for the planned concert at the Astoria, Edinburgh on 8th May 1980. The concert was cancelled due to Ian's ill-health and he was to die only ten days later. This example comes from a collection of similar posters, collected during the period in Edinburgh and which includes many similar examples for theatre and venues in the area. Measures 16.5 x 23". This poster is in incredible NM condition, clearly unrolled since the cancellation.
Lot 174
A portion of a rare original poster from 1982, advertising The Clash in what would be Mick Jones' final London appearance with the band at Brixton Fair Deal. The poster would originally measure 30 x 40", though is missing portions from the left and lower sections. There is evidence of other posters to the reverse, likely from when this one was removed from a wall near the concert venue.
Lot 193
An original and rare concert poster advertising an 1994 Oasis concert at The Joiners, Southampton. Measures approx 30 x 21cm, VF condition with light damage to right-hand edge. Originally from the collection of concert promoter 'Mint' who booked an amazing array of artists to perform at The Fighting Cocks and later at the Joiners, Southampton.
Lot 200
An original and rare concert flyer promoting a Radiohead performance at the Joiners, Southampton in February 1993. Measures approx 21 x 30cm. Double-sided with venue promo information to verso. NM condition. Originally from the collection of concert promoter 'Mint' who booked an amazing array of artists to perform at The Fighting Cocks and later at the Joiners, Southampton.
Lot 4
SMOKE - DREAMS OF DREAMS 7" (REVOLUTION RECORDS - REVP 002). Here we have the super rare 7" release of British psych group Smoke's debut release Dreams Of Dreams/ My Birth (REVP 1002, 1970 UK pressing on Revolution Pop. The 4-prong centre labels are lovely and bright with only minimal storage wear. The A-side has a sheen to it that causes some audible surface noise during playback, it's nothing overpowering or too noticeable due to the prominence of the music but does feature throughout the whole side. Side 2 is lovely, strong VG+. Comes in original Revolution paper company sleeve, VG+).
Lot 56
PAUL MCCARTNEY - PARTY PARTY 7" - ORIGINAL UK ABBEY ROAD ACETATE RECORDING. More rare stuff from Paul McCartney with this original 7" single sided acetate recording of the 1989 single. With printed Abbey Road labels stating 'Paul McCartney Part Party (Edit) 3'40) with it being interesting to note that this shortened version was not commercially released (the original song length being 5.36). The acetate (a 7" recording on a 10" disc) is in great Ex+ condition showing only a couple of extremely faint and wispy paper marks. Housed with Ex+ condition original Abbey Road 10" sleeve.
Lot 276
A RARE COALPORT CHINA CIRCULAR PLATE inscribed verso 'In Commemoration of Dr W G Grace's Century of Centuries 1866 - 1895', 23cms diameter' Condition: All text and dates, etc clear without any rubbing. A hairline crack to the base extends to the top of the plate but is less pronounced than on the base
Lot 152
3rd-2nd millennium BC. A rare pink and black mottled stone cylinder seal with incuse frieze composed of cows standing amongst buildings, characters or symbols in rectangular panels in the field, pierced for suspension; accompanied by a museum-quality impression. 40.3 grams, 41mm (1 1/2"). From the collection of a deceased gentleman, by descent to the family, pre 1988; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no.11013-181787. [A video of this lot is available to view on Timeline Auctions Website] Very fine condition. Extremely rare stone in a bright colours.
Lot 97
1st century BC-1st century AD. A clear glass skyphos with vertical body walls, tapering towards the rim, splayed circular foot and integral ring handles formed between projecting plates, the upper with a forked terminal, the lower rounded. Cf. The Hermitage Collection, Ancient Glass in the Hermitage Collection, 1997, no.37; cf. The British Museum, Masterpieces of Glass, 1968, no.37; cf. The Metropolitan Museum, accession numbers 17.194.888 and 81.10.94, for similar examples. 352 grams, 21cm wide (8 1/4"). Property of a gentleman; ex Theodore Sarmas collection, acquired in the 1970s. This vessel was produced using casting techniques; it was then lathe-cut and polished. The skyphos was the most valuable vessel in the Greek and early Roman eras, attested by their representation on the first Jewish coins, the silver shekels minted during the First Jewish Revolt against the Roman Empire in 68 AD. A limited number of these vessels can be found in museums worldwide. Although a number of fragmentary or restored examples can be found on the art market, complete examples such as the one offered here are comparatively rare. [A video of this lot is available to view on Timeline Auctions Website] [No Reserve] Fine condition, repaired.
Lot 381
9th century AD. A superb gilt-bronze trefoil brooch with alternating hatched and plain segments to the rim, dense inner pattern of chip-carved Borre Style scrolls and whorls with hatched blocks at the nodes; central triskele with knotwork detail, each arm terminating in a facing mask with pellet eyes and banded headdress; reverse with catch on one arm and pin absent, pin-lugs on another and loop on the third for attachment of a swag of beads, chatelaine, knife or other item. Cf. Beck, H. et al., Fibel und Fibeltracht, Berlin, 2000, p.194-5, for discussion of the type; Ewing, T., Viking Clothing, Stroud, 2007 plate 38; Wilson, D.M. and Klindt-Jensen, O. Viking Art, London, 1968, pl.XXXII; Smith, R.A. British Museum Guide to Anglo-Saxon Antiquities, reprinted Ipswich, 1993, p.160. Polder Vondsten, Een Cultuur-historisch magazine, April 2009, p.64-65; accompanied by copies of the relevant Polder Vondsten, Een Cultuur-historisch magazine magazine article pages. 77 grams, 89mm (3 1/2"). From an important Dutch collection; acquired in the early 1990s from Geert Nyboer, Bedum, Netherlands, who acquired the brooch in Northern Holland in the 1970s; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no.10941-181636. This is an extremely rare example of a trefoil brooch with high-relief modelling to the surface detail. The Borre Style decoration was executed with precision in wax and the brooch itself cast by a master craftsman by the cire perdue process, then gilded to capture the glittering effect of the fine surface detailing; a true masterpiece. The trefoil type is based on a three-armed strap distributor for a sword-belt used by the Carolingian Franks, copied and re-modelled to Scandinavian taste and finally re-purposed as a female dress-ornament or brooch. A similar example from Tranby, Denmark, is held by the British Museum under acquisition number 1873,1211.1. The Tranby brooch is however less well-defined in its modelling and appears 'flatter' than the present example. [A video of this lot is available to view on Timeline Auctions Website] For this specific lot, 5% import VAT is applicable on the hammer price Extremely fine condition. An extremely rare world-class object.
Lot 136
4th millennium BC. A lentoid-section ceramic counting tablet, one face inscribed with simple signs for the numbers. 93 grams, 70mm (2 3/4"). Part of a specialised collection of cuneiform texts, the property of a London gentleman and housed in London before 1992, thence by descent to family members; examined by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert FBA (1926-2011), historian, archaeologist, and specialist in Assyriology and Near Eastern archaeology, in the late 1980s and early 1990s; this small collection is exceptional for the variety of types, including some very rare and well preserved examples. [No Reserve] Fair condition, repaired. Rare.
Lot 384
10th-11th century AD. A gold annular band with rectangular-section hoop, plaited wire bezel and shoulders composed of three facetted gold wire strands hammered together at the lower shoulder, with an interesting ancient stepped joint to the band. Cf. The British Museum, museum number 1870,0402.77, for a ring of similar style and date; cf. The Portable Antiquities Scheme Database, id. SUSS-C6C345; SF-1E15D7; WAW-0C7587; WILT-C90DD5; GLO-37A922 and YORYM-F67716, for rings of similar style and date; cf. Oman, C., British Rings 800-1914, London, 1974, pl. 12, fig. D for similar; see Graham-Campbell, J., The Cuerdale Hoard and related Viking-Age silver and gold from Britain and Ireland in the British Museum, London, 2011, pp.259-263. 6.86 grams, 27.28mm overall, 22.02 x 13.73mm internal diameter, (approximate size British K 1/2, USA 5 1/2, Europe 10.58, Japan 10) (1"). Found while searching with a metal detector near the village of Sutton, Kent, UK, by Paul Smith on Monday 12th August 2019; declared as treasure and disclaimed by the crown under Treasure case tracking number 2019T856; accompanied by a copy of the Portable Antiquities Scheme Report (PAS) with reference number KENT-E2042E; a copy of the Treasure Receipt from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport; a copy a letter from the British Museum disclaiming the object to the finder; and the Report on find of Potential Treasure to HM Coroner; and a letter from the finder describing the circumstances of finding. Gold rings of this style and date are a relatively rare find, although broad parallels are known. The associated PAS report suggests a date of 'c. AD 900-1100' for this ring. [A video of this lot is available to view on Timeline Auctions Website] Fine condition, hoop split, also with ancient repair.
Lot 109
Mid 2nd-3rd century AD. A gold pendant with ellipsoid plaque, beaded border to the cell, plain loop; inset cameo with reserved classical profile female bust wearing a chiton and a stola fastened on the shoulders. For a similar style of cameo see Spier, J., Ancient Gems and Finger rings, catalogue of the collections, the J. Paul Getty Museum, Malibu, 1992, no.451 (head of Minerva); for an example in a gold mount see Toncheva, Sovetskaya Arkheologiya, I, 1968, p.233, fig.5; see also Popovi?, I., 'Roman cameos with female busts from Middle and Lower Danube' in Pallas, 83, 2010, pp.203-224, figs.10-12. 4.09 grams, 29mm (1"). Property of a gentleman from Vienna; from his private collection formed since 1970. The hairstyle of the noblewoman, as well as the marked profile of the face, recall the severe styles of the 3rd century AD. Such cameos set in gold medallions are relatively common finds in the Middle and Lower Danube regions, but rare elsewhere. For this specific lot, 5% import VAT is applicable on the hammer price [No Reserve] Very fine condition.
Lot 138
3rd millennium BC. A large bifacial pillow-shaped clay tablet with two dense faces of cuneiform text. 760 grams, 14.3cm (5 1/2"). Part of a specialised collection of cuneiform texts, the property of a London gentleman and housed in London before 1992, thence by descent to family members; examined by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert FBA (1926-2011), historian, archaeologist, and specialist in Assyriology and Near Eastern archaeology, in the late 1980s and early 1990s; this small collection is exceptional for the variety of types, including some very rare and well preserved examples. [No Reserve] Fair condition, repaired.
Lot 419
c.13th century AD. A most unusual two-piece silver double personal seal matrix, the body of circular form with hexagonal handle and tiered collar with petal moulding at the base, one petal bearing an orientation mark in the form of a cross pattee, with a second such mark in the form of four pellets set opposite; the perimeter bears the legend '+ S' ThOME * DE * RO[ ]' for the seal of Thomas of Ro[ ]; the inner part showing a circular cell that would have received an intaglio gemstone linked to a shaft passing though the body to allow the central stone to be used either in combination with the inscribed border or separately; the second orientation mark would have been used when impressing the central intaglio alone. 8.85 grams, 22mm (1"). Found whilst searching with a metal detector near Copmanthorpe, close to York, UK, in September 2020, and disclaimed as Treasure under Treasure reference no.2020T10091; accompanied by a copy of the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report number YORYM-2006DE and the report for HM Coroner. Seals belonging to important personages often provided for their owner to make use of a full seal inscribed with their name paired with a smaller 'secret' seal of simpler form. This particular seal, which allows the owner to adopt either full or secret seal through the same matrix, is extremely unusual and creating the mechanism would have required skills beyond those normally seen used by ordinary seal cutters. The complex mechanism comprised a central shaft passing through the length of the body which is keyed to ensure the orientation between body and intaglio cell remains constant and the two orientation marks of a 'cross' and 'four pellets' allowed the owner to be sure that, when impressed into wax, the design would be correctly positioned for whichever version he desired. A wire spring kept the central element snugly in place until the shaft was pressed down. The seal is secular in type and the name of the owner is complete and reads 'ThOME' for Thomas and continues with the letters 'DE' signifying 'of' and followed by the letters 'RO' being the first two letters of the place name where Thomas was born or resided; from the space available, it is likely that there were originally four or five letters to the name of the place. The matrix was found near Copmanthorpe, Yorkshire. Copmanthorpe, situated a few miles to the south-west of the city of York, is a settlement listed in the Domesday Survey of William I. The place name could be taken from a city, town, settlement or manor and there is no obvious candidate in proximity to the place of finding; indeed place names in England beginning 'RO' are not common, with Rochester (often abbreviated to ROFI or similar in the Medieval period), Kent perhaps being a strong candidate, as the seal is obviously a very costly item that could only have belonged to a wealthy personage and Rochester was an important city that would have artisans capable of its manufacture and suitable as a home to a wealthy and important person. Fair condition, some loss. Extremely rare mechanical type.
Lot 483
Early Eocene Period, c.55-45 million years BP. A large and near complete fossil Dyrosaurus crocodilian skull, showing the full upper and lower jaws with teeth together with large part of the main skull, including eye sockets; supported on a custom-made dark wood display stand. See Buffetaut, E., L'Evolution des Crocodiliens, Paris, 1985, p.109. 11.7 kg total, 105cm including stand (41 1/4"). From an East Anglian, UK, collection; from the phosphate beds, Morocco; accompanied by a two page print out about Dyrosaurus. Fine condition. Rare so well preserved.
Lot 326
Upper Perigordian Culture, Gravettian Period, 25th-20th millennium BC. A stone statuette of a piriform female figure with narrow shoulders and ample teardrop-shaped breasts, hands carved in low-relief descending in arches over the massive rounded belly and large buttocks, short thighs bordering an elongated pubic triangle, lightly sketched knees, the head proportional to the body, no facial features but with an indefinite type of coiffure. Cf. The Venus of Willendorf, NHM Vienna, for similar; see also Grand, P.M., Prehistoric Art: Paleolithic Painting and Sculpture, London, 1967; Gvozdover, M., Art of the Mammoth Hunters: The Finds from Avdeevo, Oxbow Monographs, 1995; Lesure, R.G., Interpreting Ancient Figurines: Context, Comparison, and Prehistoric Art, Cambridge, 2011. 965 grams, 16cm (6 1/4"). From the family collection of a UK gentleman, by descent in the early 1970s; previously acquired before 1960; accompanied by an academic report by Prof. Neritan Ceka and a scholarly note TL05410 by Dr Ronald Bonewitz; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no.10935-181341. The importance of the Venus statuettes lies in the fact that they are the first three-dimensional artistic creations of man. Most scholars consider them symbols of the cult of fertility and evidence of the existence of a matriarchal society as a form of organization of the earliest human society. The statue belongs to the Venus of Willendorf type of Palaeolithic idols, with obese female characteristics: huge breasts, exaggerated buttocks and genitalia, which have been found from France and Russia. Stylistically, for treatment with rounded shapes, the forward tilted head with non-detailed coiffure, our statue is closest to the Eastern European figures, like the Kostenski, Gagarino or Avdeevo Venuses, belonging to the period of Gravettian art. [A video of this lot is available to view on Timeline Auctions Website] Fine condition. Rare.
Lot 140
c.22nd-21st century BC. A limestone fragment with one face bearing the remains of an engraved royal dedication, accompanied by a handwritten and signed scholarly note by W.G. Lambert, Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham 1970-1993, which states: 'Fragment of stone with remains of royal dedication inscription, probably to a king of the Guti dynasty, c.2200-2100 B.C.' 265 grams, 97mm (4 3/4"). Part of a specialised collection of cuneiform texts, the property of a London gentleman and housed in London before 1992, thence by descent to family members; examined by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert FBA (1926-2011), historian, archaeologist, and specialist in Assyriology and Near Eastern archaeology, in the late 1980s and early 1990s; this small collection is exceptional for the variety of types, including some very rare and well preserved examples; accompanied by an original handwritten and signed scholarly note by W.G. Lambert, Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham 1970-1993. Fair condition.
Lot 308
2nd-3rd century AD. A group of three fragments of a bronze armour, embossed with the feet of Zeus-Jupiter, or Mars-Ares, wearing a pair of greaves and military footwear (calcei), over the head of the giant-monster Typhon, the right hand raised up, together with a part of his monstrous snake foot. See complete specimen of a greave with the same iconography in Negin, A., ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ????? ?????????? (Roman decorated armour of the Principate Era), Moscow, 2020, no.359, and a fragmentary similar piece no.399. 78 grams total, 7.3-10mm (3 - 4"). Property of a gentleman from Vienna; from his private collection formed since 1970. The objects are fragments of a bigger decorated armour, either from a greave (ocrea) or more likely a plate/section of a horse chamfron (prometopidion"). It represents one of the last episodes of the war among gods and the giants, the victory of Zeus over the giant Typhon. For this specific lot, 5% import VAT is applicable on the hammer price [3, No Reserve] Fair condition. Rare.
Lot 208
c.2000-1800 BC. A grey clay jar, accompanied by a copy of a handwritten and signed scholarly note issued by the late W.G. Lambert, Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Clay vessel, rounded base with skirting support, the sides slightly incurving to big outcurving (sic) rim, four lugs. Decorated with incised bird, boat and gazelle, within elaborate designs. Old Babylonian, c.2000-1800 B.C. Very good condition.'; the boat and gazelle are no longer visible within the geometric panels adorning the body of the vessel, the external wall of the vessel, pierced with four holes, extends beyond the u-section interior base. 278 grams, 10.2cm (4"). Ex Family collection by descent 1988; accompanied by a copy of a handwritten and signed scholarly note issued by the late W.G. Lambert, Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993. [No Reserve] Fair condition, chipped. Extremely rare.
Lot 431
18th century AD. A gold posy or fede ring with D-section band, bezel formed as two clasping hands emergent from sleeve cuffs, a heart between above, with worn detailing to the hands and cuffs; the interior inscribed 'If constant happye' in script characters. Cf. The British Museum, museum number 1961,1202.269, for very similar ring, different inscription, with known maker dated 17th century; cf. The Portable Antiquities Scheme Database, id. PAS-FB4D00, for similar fede design, dated 1650-1720. 1.44 grams, 18.00mm overall, 16.80mm internal diameter (approximate size British K, USA 5 1/4, Europe 9.95, Japan 9) (3/4"). From the Albert Ward collection, Essex, UK; acquired on the UK antiques market between 1974-1985. ‘Posy’ is derived from ‘poesy’ or ‘poetry’. In the medieval period many rings bore posy inscriptions in Latin or French, the languages frequently spoken by the affluent elites. Later, inscriptions in English became more usual, although the lack of standardised spelling might surprise the modern reader. The inscription is generally found on the interior of the ring, hidden to everyone except the wearer and most of the sentimental mottoes were taken from the popular literature of the time. In fact, love inscriptions often repeat each other, which suggests that goldsmiths used stock phrases. In the later 16th century, ‘posy’ specifically meant a short inscription. A posy is described in contemporary literature as a short ‘epigram’ of less than one verse. George Puttenham (1589) explained that these phrases were not only inscribed on finger rings, but also applied to arms and trenchers. The practice of giving rings engraved with mottoes at betrothals or weddings was common in England from the 16th century onwards, and continued until the late 18th century. Sources suggest that rings could be acquired ready- engraved, or alternatively engraved sometime after their initial production, by a hand other than the goldsmith’s. Joan Evans assumed that posy rings were principally used by/between lovers and distinguished four contexts for the giving of posy rings by one lover to another: betrothals, weddings, St Valentine’s Day and occasions of mourning. Samuel Pepys’ diary makes clear that posy rings might also mark the marriage of a family member, when bearers could even commission their own rings and chose their own mottoes from books. The rings could also function as tokens of friendship or loyalty. [A video of this lot is available to view on Timeline Auctions Website] [No Reserve] Very fine condition. Rare.
Lot 417
1279 AD. A pilgrim's badge made from an extremely rare Edward I groat: facing bust with rosette on breast within quatrefoil with flowers in spandrels and +EDWARDVS DI GRA REX ANGL legend, with hook-and-loop attachments for wearing; the reverse of the coin gilded with long cross and pellets dividing DNS / HIBN / E DVX / AQVT and LON / DON / IA C / IVI legends for London mint. Cf. S.1379E/1379G (£7,250 / £8,500 in VF) variant (with obverse rosette to breast); N.1006 variant; the obverse die has similarities with the Fox types 4 and 1, although the minor details differ from each of these; this die seems to be a variant on those listed in modern standard references. See Portable Antiquities Scheme, reference KENT-FE6D84 and Treasure Act reference 2020 T979 (this piece"). 6.96 grams, 28mm (1"). Found while searching with a metal detector near the village of Sutton, Kent, UK, by Paul Smith on Saturday 1st August 2020; declared as treasure and disclaimed by the crown under Treasure case tracking number 2020T979; accompanied by a copy of the Portable Antiquities Scheme Report (PAS) with reference number KENT-FE6D84; a copy of the Treasure Receipt from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport; a copy of a letter from the British Museum disclaiming the object to the finder; and the Report on find of Potential Treasure to HM Coroner. The practice of gilding the reverses of Saxon and Medieval silver coins and fitting them with pins and/or hooks to the obverse has been noted since the early periods following the arrival of Christianity and pilgrimage shrines in England. Pilgrim badges and ampullas, usually in tin or lead, are well known and were sold to pilgrims as amulets or souvenirs; small numbers of such badges were formed from silver coins of the time, displaying to view the usual cross design on the reverses, especially at Canterbury for the shrine of St Thomas Becket and these mementoes would have been much more costly so were bought only by the wealthy and few survive today. The large groats (fourpence) of Edward I, although not successful as currency after their issue in 1279, were used in this way and the majority of the groats surviving today have been so gilded and mounted as badges. [A video of this lot is available to view on Timeline Auctions Website] Coin near as struck with near full gilding. Very rare.
Lot 142
Uruk Period, c.55th-31st century BC. A sealed spherical clay bulla envelope containing clay tokens which can be heard rattling inside; impressed medial 'chain link' motif and raised-relief zoomorphic designs to the body. 144 grams, 61mm (2 1/2"). Part of a specialised collection of cuneiform texts, the property of a London gentleman and housed in London before 1992, thence by descent to family members; examined by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert FBA (1926-2011), historian, archaeologist, and specialist in Assyriology and Near Eastern archaeology, in the late 1980s and early 1990s; this small collection is exceptional for the variety of types, including some very rare and well preserved examples; accompanied by an extensive old illustrated cataloguing page. It is believed that there are less than 250, complete and fragmentary, examples of this type of bulla envelope worldwide. The bulla first emerged in Mesopotamia around 8000 BC. The clay envelopes contain a number of pre-baked accounting tokens, which were used in commercial and stock-taking transactions. Placing the tokens inside the bulla greatly enhanced the honesty of the transaction, as the bulla would have to be broken or crushed to reveal its contents. However, the epigraphic and pictorial motifs on the bullae of the Uruk period indicate a possible administrative function. Some scholars also believe that such bullae were the inspiration for the emergence of cuneiform, with the concept of using clay tokens in accounting being the acknowledged origin of the earliest cuneiform scripts. Fine condition. Extremely rare.
Lot 319
11th-12th century AD. A Norman or Cuman four-plate iron helmet, skilfully made to accommodate the curvature of the human head, and with a point at the apex; contoured so that the top and bottom 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; two holes at the base of either side, possibly used for the attachment of cheek-pieces; mounted on a custom-made display 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,’ in Waffen- und Kostamkunde, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, pt. 2, 1973; Nicolle, D., Byzantine and Islamic arms and armour; evidence for mutual influence, [in:] Warriors and their weapons around the time of the Crusades, relationship between Byzantium, the West and the Islamic world, Padstow, 2002, pp. 299-325; Menghin, W., The Merovingian Period - Europe Without Borders, Berlin, 2007, pp.326-7, item I.34.4.; D’Amato, R., ‘Old and new evidence on East-Roman helmets from the 9th to the 12th centuries,’ in Acta Militaria Medievalia, 2015, XI, pp.27-157, items fig.23, nn.1-2 and pl.1. 1.1 kg total, 28.5cm including stand (11 1/4"). Property of an East Sussex, UK, teacher; previously part of a UK collection; acquired in the 1990s; accompanied by an academic report by military expert Dr. Raffaele D’Amato; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no.10869-179719. Helmets of this general profile and with some form of conical crest were used by the military of the Black Sea region from the 7th century onwards. 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, Breton and Norman warriors in the Bayeux tapestry (Nicolle 2002, pp.308-309; Pl.VIII:A-E), and also on the heads of Eastern Roman soldiers in the famous Skilitzes Matritensis illuminated manuscript, today at the National Library of Spain, Madrid. [No Reserve] Fine condition, some restoration. A rare example.
Lot 318
c.10th century AD. A gilt-bronze Scandinavian or Eastern Viking horse harness assemblage comprising: twelve piriform plaques each with a central cell; eleven smaller rectangular plaques; a chamfron or bridle cap with running interlace decoration to the rim, reserved images of human and animal figures, central plume-holder; a quantity of smaller fittings. Cf. Petru-Mircea, I., ‘Spar av vikingatid i Rumanien’, in Pilz, E., Bysans och Norden. Akta for Nordiska forskarkursen i bysantinsk konstvetenskap, 1986, Stockholm, 1989, pp.191-202; Gorelik, M., ‘Arms and Armour in South-Eastern Europe in the Second Half of the First Millennium AD’ in Nicolle, D., Companion to Medieval Arms and Armour, Woodbridge, 2002, pp.127-148. 468 grams total, 11-113mm (1/2 - 4 1/2"). From a central London, Westminster, collection; previously in a private collection formed in Europe in the 1980s; accompanied by a detailed report by Anglo-Saxon and Viking specialist Stephen Pollington and military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no.10920-181154. The decoration of the cap indicates that the items were commissioned by a chieftain with Scandinavian taste, although the workmanship is mainly eastern European. There is strong evidence of burning, indicating that the items were deposited after cremation. [74] Fine condition. Rare.
Lot 137
33rd-30th century BC. A ceramic pillow-shaped pictographic tablet, inscribed on one face with a two-tiered pictographic grid, the reverse inscribed with two different and randomly placed forms. Cf. The Metropolitan Museum, accession numbers 1988.433.3 and 1988.433.1, for similar. 127 grams, 81mm (3 1/4"). Part of a specialised collection of cuneiform texts, the property of a London gentleman and housed in London before 1992, thence by descent to family members; examined by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert FBA (1926-2011), historian, archaeologist, and specialist in Assyriology and Near Eastern archaeology, in the late 1980s and early 1990s; this small collection is exceptional for the variety of types, including some very rare and well preserved examples; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no.10902-180764. The earliest form of writing, called proto-cuneiform, developed in Mesopotamia during the Late Uruk period. It consisted of pictographs: simple drawings and early symbols, drawn or pressed into clay tablets, then fired in a hearth or baked in the sun. As with most tablets, that offered here likely documents grain distributed by a large temple. Scholars have identified two distinct phases in the development of writing in southern Mesopotamia: the earliest tablets, dating to c.3300 BC, use pictographs and numerals to record economic information; the later phase is characterised by changes in writing technique that altered the shape of the signs. The symbols stood for nouns- names of commodities primarily- together with a few adjectives, but they lacked grammatical elements. The nature of such a system meant that the tablets could be read in any language, but the general consensus is that the underlying language is Sumerian. [A video of this lot is available to view on Timeline Auctions Website] Very fine condition.
Lot 1540
Kathleen Raine and her circle - collection of books, predominantly poetry, including many first editions and works with inscriptions e.g. four copies of 'Stone and Flowers', each 1st edition of her first published work with illustrations by Barbara Hepworth, also 'The Presence' by Kathleen Raine, with hand written poem and numbered 13/50, also very rare Enthaemon Press Proof edition of 'Faces of Day and Night' 1972, one of 85 copies, also Kathleen Raine, Living in Time, 1946 first edition, and the very rare 'The Lost Country' signed, and numbered 38/100, works including some periodicals, printed lectures etc. (3 boxes)
Lot 1541
Temenos Academy, complete set of Temenos books, 1-12 (including the very rare 1,2 and 3 editions) from 1981-1991, also multiple duplicates and other Temenos publications, also an archive of material including literature, cassette tapes of lectures, letters and documents relating to Pamela Chandler, Kathleen Raine and other leading lights in the Temenos Academy, in particular large number of letters and notes between Kathleen Raine and Pamela Chandler and printed materials. (5 boxes)
Lot 1982
1954 Sunbeam - Talbot 90 Convertible, four cylinder 2267cc, column change, Reg. No. OYM 867. Chassis no. 3015647HCOThis lovely, rare convertible is finished in light stone with red hide upholstery. Previously sold by us in 2015, the former owner had the car from 1963 until 2015, with the current owner enjoying and improving the car over the last 6 years. It has had various improvements including re-trimmed front seats and attention to the bodywork including new sills and bottom half re-spray in 2007. The general condition appears to be very sound, driving well and can be best described as good running restoration project. A rare opportunity to purchase a low mileage / low ownership unmolested example of this rare convertible The car is both MOT and taxed exempt (Subject to 12% buyers premium inclusive of VAT).
Lot 507
G.B. - 17th century AE trade tokens to include Suffolk Bury St Edmunds - John Baythorne 1657 VF, Norfolk, Swaffham Robert Denton 1660 VG-V rare Norwich 'City Arms' 1667 x2 AF&AVF, Kings Lynn 'Town Arms' 1668 VF, Dorset Dorchester 'Town Arms' 1669 GVF and halfpenny London, Crutched Friars AVF/F, Tho. Greene, rev crossed keys '67 (7 coins)
Loading...-
209236 item(s)/page