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Keys Fine Art Auctioneers
Lot 369

Victorian brass jardiniere applied on either side with lion mask ring handles and with pierced border, decorated with scrolls and foliage, raised on four paw feet, 23cm high

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Keys Fine Art Auctioneers
Lot 453

Pair of 18th century walnut throne type carver chairs, upholstered in geometric red and green cruciform pattern, each with gilded detail, splayed arms, plain supports below joined by ring turned front stretchers, probably with later applied runners

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Keys Fine Art Auctioneers
Lot 454

19th century mahogany cheval mirror of small proportions, ring turned frame and splayed legs with casters, 140cm high

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Keys Fine Art Auctioneers
Lot 465

Regency period mahogany D-end dining table, plain frieze and raised on four ring turned tapering supports of peg feet, extends to 205cm including two loose leaves, 130cm wide

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Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers
Lot 35

A 20th Century silver Sugar Shaker, by William Aiken, Birmingham, c. 1911; a bright cut silver Napkin Ring, Chester c. 1907; a silver Brandy Label, London 1838 (Rawlings & Summer); a silver Whiskey Label, Birmingham 1846; and a silver Book Mark, modelled as a pointing finger, London c. 1930, as a lot, w.a.f. (1)

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Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers
Lot 36

An attractive Spanish design ruby and pink sapphire Cluster Ring, set in 3.8gs of 18ct gold, the pink sapphire and ruby stone (2.02 t.c.w.), size Q. (1)

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Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers
Lot 55

A 19th Century micro-mosaic depicting the Tivoli Gardens, Rome, approx. 2.75cms (1")h x 3.75cms (1 1/2") w, a gilt folding monocle with chain, an ivory sovereign case, a tortoiseshell ring and similar matching purse, a small table clock, icons, and other trinkets. As a lot., w.a.f. (1)

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Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers
Lot 84

An attractive 18ct gold, 7 stone cluster Ring, with .28ct (tw), old style hand made. (1)

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Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers
Lot 86

An attractive oval diamond Solitaire Ring, size M, with illusion style setting, H/Si .27ct, 1.8gms. (1)

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Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers
Lot 93

An Edwardian enamelled Pendant, with pearl inset, a 9ct gold Ring and another with pearl inset, a pair of Egyptian gold drop Ear-rings, and an unusual pair of kingfisher feather three tier drop Ear-rings. (7)

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Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers
Lot 102

A very fine platinum Ring, with centre amethyst stone flanked by two diamonds. (1)

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Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers
Lot 105

An attractive gold Ladies Ring, inset with seven ruby type graduating stones. (1)Provenance: Purchased from Louis Wine, Dublin.

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Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers
Lot 227

An Edwardian carved walnut Mantle Clock, the square brass dial with silver chapter ring, flanked by two carved female figures, on an inverted base with shaped apron, 51cms (20") high. (1)

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Eldreds Auctioneers & Valuers
Lot 241

A Japanese small tinder box netsuke (Hiuchi), Meiji Period (1868-1912), of oval form, with iron action, the hinged copper case secured by a button catch, (hinge damaged), the outer surface with foliage decoration, with a small brass rosette and suspension ring, 4.5cm.

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Eldreds Auctioneers & Valuers
Lot 258

A 19th century brass plate stand or 'cart', with central hub and six ring-turned legs, one stamped Pratts Patent with stamped crown, 40cm high.

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Rogers Jones & Co
Lot 382

SMALL SILVER - four items, Birmingham hallmarks to include a Victorian cream jug 1886, maker H Brothers, 9.25cms H, bird and floral chased napkin ring, 1905 and a plain pair 1918, 5.4 troy ozs approximately gross

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Rogers Jones & Co
Lot 405

9CT GOLD UNMARKED YELLOW METAL and other jewellery and collectables to include an opal bar brooch, a seed pearl set example, a Victorian memoriam ring marked 'Robert Staniforth, December 28th 1878', size Q, 3.2grms, four 9ct stamped charms and one other including a RAF Wings example, inscribed to the back 'K from Johnny 1940', WVS Civil Defence badge, an Oris Nurse's watch ETC

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Rogers Jones & Co
Lot 434

MIXED HALLMARKED SILVER FLATWARE, ten pieces, a silver sifter lid and a napkin ring, various hallmarks, 12 troy ozs approximately with a set of six EP cocktail stirrer straws

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Rogers Jones & Co
Lot 441

9CT CLOGAU GOLD RING entwined knot design and amethyst in rose gold setting, size N, 3grms gross

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Rogers Jones & Co
Lot 451

CHINESE PRUNUS DECORATED PORCELAIN, three items including a 30.5cms H cylindrical vase with flared collar, a 30.5cms H baluster vase, both bear double blue ring marks to the base and a 16cms H ginger jar and cover with underglaze blue four character mark

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TimeLine Auctions Limited
Lot 111

1st century AD. An iron finger ring with inset jasper cloison, intaglio frieze with profile female bust supported by standing robed females, one with a bow and the other with a spear. Cf. Chadour, A.B. Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, volume I, Leeds, 1994, item 232. 11.1 grams, 27mm overall, 18.84mm internal diameter (approximate size British R, USA 8 3/4, Europe 18.75, Japan 18) (1"). From a private Netherlands collection; previously in an old collection since before 1980. [No Reserve] Fine condition, hoop corroded.

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TimeLine Auctions Limited
Lot 148

1st century AD. A bronze patera comprising a shallow bowl with inturned lip, basal ring, columnar handle with scroll decoration to the junction, wolf-head finial with open mouth and incised fur detailing. 340 grams, 27.5cm (10 3/4"). Property of a South London collector; acquired before 1980. Very fine condition.

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TimeLine Auctions Limited
Lot 161

3rd century AD. A substantial gold finger ring with D-section hoop, pierced with volute scrolls and tendrils, palmettes to the shoulders, the plaque lentoid in plan with similar openwork ornament, central cell with inset nicolo gemstone of an eagle tearing at the body of a hare. Cf. Chadour, A.B. Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, volume I, Leeds, 1994, item 351 for type, 410 for design. 32 grams, 34mm overall, 23.29x17.93mm internal diameter (approximate size British P, USA 7 1/2, Europe 16.23, Japan 15) (1 1/3"). From an old family collection formed between 1890 and 1910, thence by descent to the present owner; Accompanied by scholarly note TL 005252 from Dr Ron Bonewitz. The substantial size and weight of the ring and the extremely high quality nicolo stone, with the military symbolism of an eagle attacking a hare, alludes to the power and might of Rome; it could be that the ring was an imperial gift to an extremely high ranking Roman officer, such as a legate, commanding one or more legions as a reward in recognition of his services to the Empire. Very fine condition.

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TimeLine Auctions Limited
Lot 163

1st century BC-1st century AD. A slender gold finger ring with acanthus-leaf scrolls to the shoulders, discoid bezel with claw setting, inset cameo with profile bust of Mercury wearing the petasos. Cf. Chadour, A.B. Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, volume I, Leeds, 1994, item 165. 4.49 grams, 19.38mm overall, 17.46mm internal diameter (approximate size British N, USA 6 1/2, Europe 13.72, Japan 13) (3/4"). Property of a London gentleman; acquired by his father in the 1970s; thence by descent. Very fine condition.

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TimeLine Auctions Limited
Lot 164

3rd century AD. A gold finger ring with applied granule clusters to the outer face of the hoop, gold wire sleeves to the shoulders, ellipsoid bezel with applied granulation to the cell and inset amethyst cloison, intaglio eagle-on-branch motif. Cf. Chadour, A.B. Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, volume I, Leeds, 1994, items 379-380 for type. 6.57 grams, 22.85mm overall, 19.98mm internal diameter (approximate size British R, USA 8 1/2, Europe 18 3/4, Japan 18) (1"). Property of a London gentleman; acquired London art market, 1970-1980. Very fine condition. A large wearable size.

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TimeLine Auctions Limited
Lot 166

2nd-3rd century AD. A gold finger ring with round-section hoop and irregular sheet gold cell, hollow-formed with inset carnelian intaglio of probably Venus (Greek Aphrodite), seated female holding up a hand-mirror. Cf. Chadour, A.B. Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, volume I, Leeds, 1994, item 368 for type. 9.65 grams, 24.03mm overall, 19.13mm internal diameter (approximate size British S, USA 9, Europe 20, Japan 19) (1"). Property of a Dutch gentleman; formerly in an old collection formed in the 1970s. [No Reserve] Fine condition. A large wearable size.

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TimeLine Auctions Limited
Lot 169

1st century BC. A gold penannular finger ring with overlapping ends formed as the head and tail of a snake, hatched texture to the body. 3.88 grams, 22mm overall, 19.36mm internal diameter (approximate size British S 1/2, USA 9 1/4, Europe 20.73, Japan 20) (3/4"). Property of a North London gentleman; formerly in a German private collection, Munich. Very fine condition.

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TimeLine Auctions Limited
Lot 170

2nd century AD. A gold finger ring with inset silver face of Venus modelled in high relief. 3.73 grams, 19.16mm overall, 12.81x16.43mm internal diameter (approximate size British G, USA 3 1/4, Europe 4.92, Japan 4) (3/4"). From the collection of a European gentleman living in South London; acquired 1970-1980. Very fine condition.

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TimeLine Auctions Limited
Lot 200

7th-9th century AD. A bronze oil lamp with globular heart-shaped body and projecting nozzle with wide wick hole; oil hole to the back with scallop shell lid hinged to the base of a large equal-armed cross with ring handle to the back; pedestal ring to the base, with two-stage graduated column and large rectangular base. Cf. Bailey, D.M. A Catalogue of the Lamps in the British Museum. IV. Lamps of Metal and Stone and Lampstands, London, 1988, item Q3800. 3.7 kg, pedestal: 27.5 x 14cm (1 3/4"). Ex an important Dutch collection; acquired on the European art market in the 1970s. [3] Very fine condition.

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TimeLine Auctions Limited
Lot 204

10th-12th century AD. A bronze piriform oil lamp with flange rim to the nozzle, pelta-shaped spurs to the shoulders, hinged lid with lion-mask and aviform handle, loop handle to the reverse with openwork leaf-shaped reflector, basal ring and central square socket. 347 grams total, 14cm (5 1/2"). Property of a Dutch gentleman; formerly in an old collection formed in the 1970s. [No Reserve] Fine condition.

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TimeLine Auctions Limited
Lot 206

5th-6th century AD. A gold finger ring with two-ply twisted wire hoop, granule and triangular panel to each shoulder, twisted filigree collar to the cell and inset silver plaque, intaglio Mary Theotokos and infant Jesus. Cf. Chadour, A.B. Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, volume I, Leeds, 1994, item 482 for type. 5.27 grams, 23.77mm overall, 20.94mm internal diameter (approximate size British Q, USA 8, Europe 17.49, Japan 16) (3/4"). Property of a London gentleman; acquired by his father in the 1970s; thence by descent. Fine condition. A large wearable size.

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TimeLine Auctions Limited
Lot 214

6th-7th century AD. A bronze box with hinged lid, pierced tab to one short side and slot to the other, sprung fastener; the underside decorated with low-relief image of a stylised bird in flight between bands of ring-and-dot and billets; the lid with ring-and-dot bands to three edges, two low-relief bird-foot motifs. 97.8 grams, 71mm (2 3/4"). Property of a Dutch gentleman; formerly in an old collection formed in the 1970s. [No Reserve] Very fine condition.

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TimeLine Auctions Limited
Lot 306

Early 1st millennium AD. A silver footed bowl with ribbed outer wall and deep chamfered rim, flared foot, parcel-gilt ring to the centre. 472 grams, 16.5cm (6 1/2"). Property of a London gentleman; formerly with Mahboubian Gallery, London, UK; acquired before 1972. Very fine condition.

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TimeLine Auctions Limited
Lot 355

Ban Chiang Period, 15th-9th century BC. A ceramic storage jar with tall basal ring, biconvex body and flared neck; sgraffito bands with reserved text, notched collar to the equator. 2.4 kg, 26cm (10 1/4"). Property of a Cambridgeshire lady; formerly in the Igor Karmiloff collection (1925-2016), UN economist and author of Flashbacks, Icons of Impermanence, Bloomington, 2009; acquired in the 1950s-early 1990s; accompanied by a copy of an invoice from Galerie Koller, Zurich, Switzerland, dated 16 August 1981 and an old photograph dated 1982. Very fine condition.

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TimeLine Auctions Limited
Lot 37

1st-3rd century BC. A bronze finger ring with scaphoid bezel, intaglio scene with rider on a galloping horse, carrying a spear. Cf. Chadour, A.B. Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, volume I, Leeds, 1994, item 31 for type. 3.54 grams, 23mm overall, 20.55mm internal diameter (approximate size British V 1/2, USA 10 3/4, Europe 24.4, Japan 23) (1"). Property of a London gentleman; formerly with Mahboubian Gallery, London, UK; acquired before 1972. Very fine condition.

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TimeLine Auctions Limited
Lot 412

18th-19th century AD. A substantial circular ceramic wall tile with raised rim and inner ring of crosses, band of raised Kufic script to the outer ring and central calligraphic symbol; traces of blue, white and red glaze. 2.9 kg, 32cm (12 1/2"). Property of a London gentleman; acquired from his father's collection. Fine condition.

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TimeLine Auctions Limited
Lot 43

8th-3rd century BC. A bronze wine strainer with broad pan and inturned sidewall, tapering handle; the pan with central pierced rosette and notched rim, the handle with low-relief figure in draped mantle advancing with one hand raised on a beaded piriform panel with finial ivy-leaf and berries, suspension ring with antenna finial, incised knot motif. 183 grams, 26cm (10 1/4"). Property of a European gentleman living in London; previously from an English collection formed in the 1980s. Fine condition, cracked.

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TimeLine Auctions Limited
Lot 430

12th-late 13th century AD. A long Western European, double-cutting sword with a broad tapering blade, the edges bearing a lot of evidence of its use on the battlefield, both sides of the fullers decorated with inlay: on one side a geometric design of cross-in-ring and scrolled tendrils; on the other side an inlaid brass inscription 'SXS BENEDICAT IUS' with curlicues; the blade has a shallow pointed tip, and to the other face a long lower guard with rounded ends and a broad but short grip, the tang is very stout ending with the usual plain walnut style pommel, substantially D-shaped with slightly curved lower edge. See Oakeshott, E., Sword in hand, London, 2001; Peirce, I., Swords of the Viking Age, Suffolk, 2002; Wagner, T., Worley, J., Holst Blennow, A., Beckholmen, G. Medieval Christian invocation inscriptions on sword blades in Waffen- und Kostümkunde, 2009, 51(1): 11-52; G?osek M., Makiewicz T. Two Encrusted Swords from Zb?szyn, Lubusz Voivodship, in Gladius 27, 2007, pp.137-148; Marek, L., The Blessing of Swords. A new look into inscriptions of the Benedictus, in Acta Militaria Mediaevalia, tom X, 2014, pp.9-20. 1.3 kg, 90cm (35 1/2"). Property of a Suffolk collector; formerly acquired on the European art market in the 1990-2000s; accompanied by an academic report by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato. This sword has good parallels with a sword published by Peirce, from a private collection (Peirce, 2002, pp.124-125"). Also inscribed, with the usual mark of the workshop, +ULFBERHT+. The current example with religious inscription, a blessing formulation, comparable with the swords showing the inscription BENEDICTUS (Marek, 2014, pp.10ff."). The sword's inscription is most intriguing, and it will help to date the sword in a more precise way. The origin of the inscriptions of this sword is very old. This was a ritual, probably of Germanic origin, in which the father handed down the sword to his grown-up son as a sign that he can defend himself and the tribe. During the Middle Ages the 'sword presentation ceremony', performed by the liege lord or a cleric, put the warrior into service of the former, as a vassal in the first case or as a 'miles Christi ad servitium Iesu Christi' ('soldier of Christ in service of Christ') in the second (Wagner, Worley, Holst Blennow, Beckholmen, 2009, p. 12ff."). Unfortunately, so far it has not been possible to identify such a traditional type of ceremonial dicta latina that was carved on a sword blade. However, quite conversely, the inscriptions (even though sometimes showing a constancy of letters) are extremely variable and appear to be very personal, maybe the individual secret of every sword bearer. It must have been a special dictum so obvious and so self-evident to him, that it was not necessary to spell out its significant meaning. In Germanic tribes runic inscriptions on swords, axes or even pieces of armour were considered to endow the items with magical powers, and it is imaginable that this traditional thinking (after an ambivalent period of transition) was transferred to Christian times. Hence the dicta on the sword blades were probably supposed to invoke God’s holy name and his grace to gain support and protection in battle. Religious rituals or prayers for divine assistance before combat, must have been prevalent, particularly in the age of the crusades throughout the 12th and 13th centuries. In our specimen the inscription is linked with the presence of nomina sacra, typical of specimens from the 11th -13th centuries, where they were written in full length: SXS (SANCTUS) BENEDICAT ('he may bless') IUS meaning 'He (the Holy God) may bless the right one or the law or the right cause'. SXC is the substitution of the original Latin formulation SCS (Sanctus) with SXS, where the Greek letter X (chi) is used at the place of the Latin letter C. IUS can be read the law, the right, or a short formulation for IUSTUM (the right one"). The C was also used in charters as a form 'symbol of Christ', comparable to a chrismon (usually consisting of X and P, but also as capital C), to invoke God’s grace for an act of legal significance. Indeed the use of the X is linked with the initials, in Greek, of the name of Jesus Christ (???????"). A such sword is in the Danish National Museum (inv. nr. D8801, Oakeshott, 2001, pp.48-49, figs.47-48; Peirce, 2002, p.136), with the inscription on the obverse: SCSPETRNNS; and on the reverse BENEDICATNTIUSETMAT. More notably a sword found on the island of Saaremaa (Estonia), dated by A. Anteins to the 13th century, and by D. A. Drboglav to the beginning of this century, where the letters SXS appear. Considering that on another artefact, from Lake Zbaszynskie, the letters ScS appear in place of SXS, this last abbreviation can be read as 's(an)c(tu)S'. However, if we assume that a dot in the inscription on the sword after the letter 'c' is separating the words, we can also develop the inscription as 'S(an)c(tus) S(alvator)' or 'S(an)c(tus) S(anctus)' (G?osek, Makiewicz 2007 p.141"). The dots in the inscription are not always placed according to a rhythm of the words and may even appear in the middle of the letter. Thus a second possible interpretation of the inscription in our sword can be SANCTUS XRISTUS SALVATOR BENEDICAT IUS meaning 'The Holy Saviour Christus may bless the right one or the law or the right cause.' The monogram cross preceding the inscription, is visible on various swords, like the Karlstad sword, in Värmlands Museum (Wagner, Worley, Holst Blennow, Beckholmen, 2009, p.24, figs.12-13), dated to sometime in the 12th or early 13th centuries. Most probably our specimen is from a battlefield, a river find or from a grave. The piece is in excellent condition notwithstanding the corrosion on the blade where signs of battlefield are visible. Many swords of similar type can be classified as German manufacture, and we know that the kind of pommels were in use until the 13th century. The straight guard with thick straight quillons are typical of the style Xa (and XI) of Oakeshott, that, with its double-edged blade, combined the cutting and the cut-and-thrust styles. The fullers, like in this case, are very marked and form not less than two thirds of the length, what makes such sword one of those presenting those elegant proportions which prevail when the blade is almost parallel for some seventy percent of its length before tapering began. Fine condition. A good solid example of a well balanced sword.

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TimeLine Auctions Limited
Lot 440

9th-11th century AD. A large iron spearhead with lozengiform blade, long shoulders with rectangular plaques below, flared socket with stamped ring-and-dot decoration to the neck, opposed holes to accept attachment rivets, rectangular attachment hole in between. 775 grams, 32.7cm (13"). From the family collection of a South East London collector; formerly acquired in the 1960s. [No Reserve] Very fine condition; professionally cleaned, restored and conserved.

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TimeLine Auctions Limited
Lot 463

Circa 1500-1540 AD. A 'hand and a half' or 'Bastard' sword, with ring guard, double-edged broad blade, lenticular in section, with single short shallow fuller, running up the first third of its length; the hilt is complex with spherical pommel (style G), the grip is elegantly wrapped with a later iron wire, the cross-guard (style 5) is broad towards the edges, where the iron quillons are ending with three small notches; the handle with a side guard together with the knuckle bow, showing two additional rings on the lower part of the hilt, bowing towards the flat undecorated blade. See Schneider, H., Waffen in Schweizerischen Landesmuseum, GriffWaffen I, Zurich,1980; Talhoffer, H., Medieval Combat: a Fifteenth-Century Illustrated Manual of Swordfighting and Close-Quarter Combat, by Rector, M. (ed."). London, 2000; Oakeshott, E., Sword in hand, London, 2001; Scalini, M., A bon droyt, spade di uomini liberi, cavalieri e santi, Milano, 2007. 1.3 kg, 1.05m (41 1/4"). From an important private family collection of arms and armour; acquired on the European art market in the 1980s, and thence by descent; believed originally from Liege, Belgium; accompanied by an academic report by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato. By the second quarter of the 16th century, the long sword had become the 'Bastard' or 'hand and half sword', of which there are many beautiful surviving examples in excellent condition (Oakeshott, 2001, pp.137ff., figs.123-126), like the one here illustrated. The evolution of great and arming swords brought to the transformation of it in the Renaissance rapiers. The samples published by Oakeshott and kept in private collections, show how the developed hilt of the arming sword, which eventually become a rapier, was paralleled in the big 'bastard' swords. Held either in one or both hands, and also known as a ‘bastard’ sword, as its grip was not as long as a traditional two-handed sword, it can be dated to around 1500-1540 based on the decoration of its hilt. The three-notch ends of the crossbars (quillons) are quite flimsy while the finely spherical pommel recalls the swirling lobes that decorated contemporary flagons and candlestick stems. This appearance demonstrates a move away from the brutal simplicity of the medieval sword. The term 'bastard sword' was not, as supported by some scholars, a modern term, but already widely spread in the first half of 16th century. As a military weapon, it was kept in use by the Swiss for almost a century, with very few variations in shape, because it adhered perfectly to the organisational logic of the cantonal troops. So much so, that hundreds of specimens of this type are known, obviously with variations and best represented in the Swiss museums, especially in Zurich (Schneider, 1980, nn. 183-186, 190-195, 198, pp. 129-132, 134-136,138"). Many of them having complex hilts. This interesting piece belongs to the early period of diffusion of rapier in England. With all probability from a battlefield, a castle or a military site. The hilt and spatulate quillons and semi-basket guard for the knuckles is characteristically middle of the 16th century German. It was a long-term employed form, based on the shape of the swords used from horseback, hybridizing them with those of two-handed swords, thus defining an infantryman's sword, very effective against horsemen and pikemen. Its use, predominantly Germanic, involved training and a particular way of shielding, with guard positions, parades and lunges, all different from those of civilian side arms (Scalini, 2007, p.244"). Swords like this were among the most versatile weapons of the battlefield. It could be used one-handed on horseback, two-handed on foot; different techniques were used against armoured and unarmoured opponents; and the sword could even be turned around to deliver a powerful blow with the hilt. Mastery of the difficult physical skills of battle, was one of the chief attributes of the aristocrat. The art of combat was an essential part of a nobleman's education. Sigund Ringeck, a 15th-century fencing master, claimed knights should 'skilfully wield spear, sword, and dagger in a manly way.' These swords, gripped in both hands, were a potent weapon against armour before the development of firearms, but also continued to be used for long time after the diffusion of the guns and arquebuses on the European battlefield of XVI century. To fully appreciate the sword’s meaning for Ringeck as a sixteenth-century gentleman, it is important to understand its double role as both offensive weapon and costume accessory. As costume jewellery the decorative sword hilt flourished fully between 1580 and 1620. However, the seeds were sown long before. This ‘hand-and-a-half’ sword for use in foot combat carries an early sign of this development. No part of a medieval sword was made without both attack and defence in mind. Modern fencing encourages us to see the blade, in fact only the tip of the blade, as the sole attacking element of a sword and the hilt more as a control room and protector. Tight rules prevent the sword hand ever straying from the hilt and the spare hand from getting involved at all. This is a modern mistake. The fifteenth-century Fightbook published by the German fencing master, Hans Talhoffer, illustrates a more pragmatic approach as how two fashionably dressed men settle their differences using undecorated swords with thick diamond-section blades. The blades could be gripped as well as the hilt. The rounded pommels at the end of the grip, and at the ends to the quillons, not only balanced the swing of the sword but acted as hammerheads to deliver the ‘murder-stroke’. As soon as these elements ceased to be functional, they took on the role of adornment. This sword hints at the more decorative hilts produced later in the late 16th and 17th centuries. Swords themselves varied in weight and so did the crossguards. Also there are multiple different crossguards in this category, starting from simple ones with a single sidering or none at all to some complex 'baskets'. Fine condition. Rare.

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TimeLine Auctions Limited
Lot 477

Circa 1330 AD. A heavy iron war mace, with hexagonal prismatic head surmounted by an iron button, the faces of the hexagon divided by lines preserving traces of gilding; mounted upon an iron staff with traces of silver, characterised by a ring of entanglement at the top and three concentric circles below. See ??????? ?.?. ???????-????????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? XIV - ?????? XV ??. // ??????????? ????? ? ??????? ? ???????? ????? ??????, ?., 1983; Head, 1984, Armies of the Middle Ages, volume 2, Worthing, 1984; Nicolle, D. Arms and Armour of the Crusading Era, 1050-1350, Islam, Eastern Europe and Asia, London 1999; Bashir, M. (ed.), The Arts of the Muslim Knight, The Furusiyya Art Foundation Collection, Milan, 2008. 1.5 kg, 45.5cm (18"). From an important private family collection of arms and armour; acquired on the European art market in the 1980s, and thence by descent; believed originally from Eastern Europe; accompanied by an academic report by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato. The war mace belongs to the group of the eastern war maces used by the Mongol armies in 13th century. In particular it is an interesting parallel to a mace published by Gorelik (1983, pl.27, n.67), having the same hexagonal prismatic shape, dated at the 13th century AD. It is also the same kind of mace that was brandished by the Il-Kh?nid Persian-Mongol warriors (scene of the battle of Ardashir and Artavan) in the very famous manuscript Demotte Sh?hn?mah, made in ?dharbayj?n in about 1335 AD (Nicolle, 1999, figs.632J"). The mace, perhaps because of its ancient associations, acquired a legendary quality, second only to the swords in the Islamic world, and therefore also of the Ilkhanid Turco-Mongol warlike state, that with the Sultan Ghazan adhered to the Islam in 1295 AD. Amongst Mongols and Turkish warriors, the mace became a symbol of office, and maces, gilded like this one, played a role in ceremonies which significance was a mixture of religious and military elements. From a military point of view, it was an extremely effective weapon in close combat, particularly from horseback against an armoured opponent, where a heavy mace could easily damage even the thickest steel armour and crash heads and helmets at the same time (Bashir, 2008, p.235"). The Ilkhanid Empire was originally part of the Mongol Empire founded by Genghis Khan, its Persian branch created by Hulegu, grandson of Genghis Khan himself. Settled in Persia, the Mongols fostered the growth of cosmopolitan cities with rich courts and wealthy patrons, who encouraged the arts to flourish. At the death of Kublai Khan the Ilkhanid Khanate was de facto independent, until his dissolution in 1335 AD. The core of its army were the powerful armoured cavalrymen, of Mongol, Turkish and Iranian origin, covered with Khuyagh armour, a lamellar or laminated corselet, mainly in iron, sometimes in bronze; they wore hemispherical helmets with reinforced brow, a plume tube or a spike, and mail, lamellar or leather aventail, round shields and offensive weapons like sabres, bow and arrows and naturally war maces (Heath, 1984, pp.114-115"). Most probably our specimen is from an excavation. The piece is very rare and is in excellent condition. The mace is a type of short-arms, a weapon of impact-crushing action, consisting of a wooden or metal handle (rod) and a spherical pommel (head), which can be smooth or studded with spikes. The mace is one of the oldest types of edged weapons, a direct heir to the club, which began to be used in the Stone Age. It became widespread in the late Middle Ages, which was due to the excellent 'armour-piercing' qualities of this weapon. The mace was great for breaking through heavy armour and helmets. The heads of some maces were huge. Mace has several significant advantages over bladed weapons. Firstly, a mace (like a hammer) never got stuck in enemy armour or shield, which often happened with a sword or a spear. With the help of maces, it was possible to completely deprive the enemy of the shield, inflicting several strong blows on it. In this case, either the shield broke, or its owner received a fracture of the limb. You can also add that the blows of the mace almost never slide off. Secondly, you can learn to use a mace much faster than a sword. In addition, these weapons were relatively cheap and almost 'unkillable'. The mace has a significant advantage in comparison with the war hammer: the enemy can be beaten with either side of the weapon. The mace was an essential weapon according the Islamic Fur?s?yah during close combat, and some military treatises are devoted to this weapon (for example, the 'Kit?b Ma?rifat La?b al-Dabb?s f? Awq?t al-?ur?b wa-al-?ir?? ?alá-al-Khayl,' held in Paris, BNF MS Ar. 2830 and BNF MS Ar. 6604; Istanbul, Ayasofya MS 3186; on the fur?s?yah treatises dealing with the art of the mace, see also al-Sarraf, 'Mamluk Fur?s?yah Literature and Its Antecedents'"). The most common name for the club/mace was the Persian 'gurz' and its derivatives: garz, horz and gargaz. The written sources describe four methods of conducting battle: throwing at an enemy from a long distance: close combat at a distance proportioned to the length of the club; rotation of the mace when a warrior was surrounded by enemies; defeating the enemy in front of you. The maces or clubs with huge heads and relatively short poles were suitable for throwing. Our mace belongs to a simplified form of maces, a sort of cube-shaped tops with six cut corners transforming it in hexagon (type II"). All the specimens are in iron and date back to the 12th–14th centuries. A very widespread category of finds is made up of type II maces, mainly found in the excavations of the Southern Russian cities that were destroyed during the Tatar-Mongol invasion. They were also found in Novgorod, Moscow, and in the peasant Kostroma barrows. Usually, maces were considered to belong to the nobility, but the simpler specimens probably were widely available as weapons for ordinary soldiers, citizens and peasants. This is also supported by the simplicity and sometimes carelessness in the decoration of the maces themselves. Fine condition.

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Lot 480

2nd century BC-1st century AD. A substantial bronze rectangular plate mount with enamel-filled cells to the face, reserved La Tène triskele and ring; enamel in red, yellow and blue; two attachment loops to the reverse and inked accession number '029-A0004'. 28 grams, 37mm (1 1/2"). Found Mashbury Parish, Essex, UK, in the 1980s; collection number 029-A0004; accompanied by a copy of the Portable Antiquities Scheme report number ESS-049E64. Very fine condition, cleaned and conserved. Rare.

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Lot 531

10th-12th century AD. A gilt-bronze disc mount with billeted border, low-relief design of a facing figure with rosettes to the hands in a ring of linked roundels. 9.5 grams, 47mm (2"). Part of a West London collection; formerly the property of a European gentleman living in Germany; acquired in Germany in the 1990s. [No Reserve] Fine condition.

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Lot 536

6th-9th century AD. A Viking or Anglo-Scandinavian finger ring of Hines & Bayliss's Type WR3, formed from twisted gold square-section wire with slip-knot bezel. See Webster, L. & Backhouse, J. The Making of England. Anglo-Saxon Art and Culture AD 600-900, London, 1991. 3.93 grams, 24.97mm overall, 19.49mm internal diameter (approximate size British S 1/2, USA 9 1/4, Europe 20.63, Japan 19) (1"). Found near Amesbury, Wiltshire, UK, 29 August 2015; disclaimed under the Treasure Act 1996 with reference number 2016T261; accompanied by a copy of the Portable Antiquities Scheme report, a letter from the British Museum disclaiming the Crown's interest and museum report for HM Coroner. The ring is of a type found in Anglo-Saxon deposits, especially early period (5th-7th century) burials. The form of the knot is consistent with this early date-range but the lozenge-section wire is more typical of Middle Saxon work which occasionally appears in hoards associated with the Viking raids, such as the Beeston Tor example. Very fine condition. A large wearable size.

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Lot 537

9th-12th century AD. A gold penannular finger ring with each end of the hoop everted into two tight coils. 11.07 grams, 24.68mm overall, 19.43mm internal diameter (approximate size British S, USA 9, Europe 20, Japan 19) (1"). Property of a London gentleman; acquired by his father in the 1970s; thence by descent. Very fine condition. A large wearable size.

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Lot 538

10th-12th century AD. A gold finger ring formed as two parallel twisted bands. 5.05 grams, 23mm overall, 18.90mm internal diameter (approximate size British R 1/2, USA 8 3/4, Europe 19.38, Japan 18) (1"). From the property of a London gentleman; formerly in a UK collection, acquired in the 1990s. Very fine condition.

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Lot 540

10th-12th century AD. A finger ring of tapering gold rods twisted around each other, the ends twisted round the shank. 8.55 grams, 26mm overall, 16.66mm internal diameter (approximate size British L 1/2, USA 6, Europe 12.34, Japan 12) (1"). From the property of a London gentleman; formerly in a UK collection, acquired in the 1990s. Very fine condition.

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Lot 541

9th-11th century AD. A substantial gold ring formed from plaited rods with three decorative twisted rods, the underside hammered into a single bar. 17.51 grams, 31.39mm overall, 21.93x17.58mm internal diameter (approximate size British Q, USA 8, Europe 17.49, Japan 16) (1 1/4"). From a private UK collector; previously the property of an East Anglian collector; acquired in Europe in the late 1940s. Fine condition.

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Lot 542

10th-12th century AD. A finger ring of braided gold wires, the tapering ends coiled around the shank. 7.93 grams, 26.52mm overall, 18.10mm internal diameter (approximate size British O 1/2, USA 7 1/4, Europe 15.61, Japan 15) (1"). Property of a North London gentleman; formerly from an important Russian family collection. Very fine condition.

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Lot 543

9th-10th century AD. A finger ring of tightly braided gold wire tapering to the ends and fused to the underside. 12.6 grams, 28.86mm overall, 19.55mm internal diameter (approximate size British Q, USA 8, Europe 17.49, Japan 16) (1"). Property of a West Yorkshire collector; acquired from Brigantia, The Red House, Duncombe Place, York, UK; previously in an old collection formed in the 1970s; accompanied by the original invoice from Brigantia, dated 21 May 2011, and the original certificate of authenticity number 10209 of the same date. Very fine condition. A large wearable size.

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Lot 544

9th-10th century AD. A finger ring of braided gold wire tapering to the ends and fused to the underside. 11.2 grams, 28.26mm overall, 18.13mm internal diameter (approximate size British O, USA 7, Europe 14.98, Japan 14) (1"). Property of a West Yorkshire collector; acquired from Brigantia, The Red House, Duncombe Place, York, UK; previously in an old collection formed in the 1970s; accompanied by the original invoice from Brigantia, dated 28 May 2011, and the original certificate of authenticity number 10209 of the same date. Very fine condition. A large wearable size.

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Lot 545

9th-11th century AD. A substantial gold finger ring with lozengiform bezel developing from the hoop, formed from a single cast bar; the narrow ends of the bar twisted over each other; the hoop decorated with sub-triangular and pellet-in-triangle punchmarks; the bezel formed with a central boss surrounded by subtriangular and chevron punchmarks. 17.53 grams, 26mm overall (approximate size British Y, USA 12, Europe 27.51, Japan 26"). (1"). Property of a West Yorkshire collector; formerly property of a Surrey collector; previously in the old collection of Peter Stark, South West London, UK. Very fine condition. Extremely rare.

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Lot 547

9th-10th century AD. A substantial finger ring formed as a thick rectangular-section penannular band with pellet-in-lozenge stamps to the outer face. 20.3 grams, 28.34mm overall, 21.63mm internal diameter (approximate size British X, USA 11 1/2, Europe 26.29, Japan 25) (1"). Property of a West Yorkshire collector; acquired from a Suffolk collector; previously in an old European collection formed before 1980. Very fine condition. A very large wearable size.

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Lot 55

5th-3rd century BC. A gold coiled wire hair ring. 3.76 grams, 18mm (3/4"). Ex Manton collection, Birmingham, UK; acquired on the London art market. Fine condition.

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Lot 561

10th-12th century AD. A substantial silver necklace of looped links, D-section beast-head terminals with elaborate filigree detailing and suspension ring in the mouth. 174 grams, 74cm (29"). From a London W1, UK, collection; acquired on the German art market before 2000. [No Reserve] Very fine condition.

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Lot 573

10th-11th century AD. A silver-gilt hammer pendant with ring, punched pellet and triangle ornament. 9 grams, 59mm (2 1/4"). From a London W1, UK, collection; acquired on the German art market before 2000. [No Reserve] Very fine condition.

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Lot 574

10th-12th century AD. A silver cosmetic and amuletic set including miniature situla, duck-foot amulet, tweezers, scoop and cosmetic spoon, all mounted on a silver wire ring. 12.5 grams, 80mm (3"). From a private collection formed before 1968. [No Reserve] Fine condition.

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Lot 599

16th-17th century AD. A gold signet ring comprising a slender hoop and ellipsoid bezel with heater shield in a beaded border and maker's mark to the reverse; the arms blazoned 'on a bend three lions passant with mullet for difference'; maker's mark a monogram with 'F' (or E?) to the right side. Cf. Oman, C. C., British Rings, 800-1914, pl.50, items C-F for similar examples. See Portable Antiquities Scheme, reference CAM-93065A (this ring"). 5.97 grams, 19mm overall, 17.08mm internal diameter (approximate size British M 1/2, USA 6 1/2, Europe 13.41, Japan 13) (3/4"). Found with use of a metal detector in the parish of Houghton and Wyton, near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire on 25th May 2018; accompanied by a copy of a report by the finder; the official Treasure valuation with Treasure reference 2018 T521 [£3,200.00; subsequently disclaimed]; a copy of the Portable Antiquities Scheme report number CAM-93065A; and several documents from the British Museum and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The ring is of a size suitable for a child close to adulthood and the mullet (star) cadency mark indicates that the bearer was a the third son of his father; the form of the arms are linked to the Emerton or Flete families. The maker's mark is partly erased through wear and is of a type known in the period. Fine condition.

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Lot 602

Later 16th century AD. A natural diamond crystal set with square table facet uppermost in an Elizabethan era gold finger ring; the diamond a natural crystal, amber in colour with inclusions; the ring with keeled D-section hoop, running scrolls to the outer faces, rectangular bezel with cell and lateral swags. Cf. Chadour, A.B. Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, volume I, Leeds, 1994, item 633 the Archbishopric Freising ring. 7.37 grams, 28mm overall, 18.82mm internal diameter (approximate size British R, USA 8 3/4, Europe 19.0, Japan 18) (1"). Property of a UK gentleman; acquired from a London gallery in the late 1980s; formerly from a private European collection, formed in the 1960s and 1970s. Accompanied by scholarly note TL 005250 from Dr Ron Bonewitz. Very fine condition.

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Lot 603

17th century AD. A gold finger ring comprising a D-section hoop, segmented bezel of three plaques each a square with notched rim and inset table-cut diamond. 5.45 grams, 23mm overall, 19.75mm internal diameter (approximate size British T 1/2, USA 9 3/4, Europe 22.0, Japan 21) (1"). Property of a Suffolk collector; formerly acquired on the European art market in the 1990s. Accompanied by scholarly note TL 005248 from Dr Ron Bonewitz. Very fine condition.

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