Antiquities & Artefacts

A nice example with pin and catch plate intact. The La Tene culture was located in the Danube area spreading as far as Britain to the west and the Ukraine in the east, flourishing during the iron age until the Roman occupation. They had a stylish form of Celtic art deriving from the Hallstatt culture and are famous for their metalwork. They were absorbed into the Gallo-Roman culture with Roman invasion and occupation.

Size: 41mm x 15mm x 16mm; Weight: 5.35g

Ref: R. Hattatt's Ancient Brooches, p.289, item 225

£70 (P&P FREE to all locations)

This special little piece is made from Carnelian (Chalcedony) or possibly Agate and was made during Ancient Egypt’s New Kingdom to Late Period, dated around 1550BC-332AD

Condition: Very fine, with deposits, the attachment loop is entire and it could therefore be wearable.The anatomical features are outlined by grooves and this is mirrored on the other side, which is unusual.

Size: 13.5mm x 9mm x 4mm. 0.45g

History note: Although the scarab beetle is the insect most associated with Ancient Egypt, the fly (afet) also played a role as a mystical symbol. Amulets in the shape of flies were probably worn in the belief that wearing one would ward off real flies and protect from disease. It has also been suggested that the wearer believed that the amulet might impart some of the persistent nature of the fly, indeed, pharaohs handed out military awards in the shape of flies. They would have been made from metal, semi-precious stones or bone and worn singly or in large numbers on necklaces.

£160 (P&P FREE to all locations) #1582

'Londesborough Type'. An impressive example decorated with punched crescents and annulets. The head plate has a panel missing, but retains the top and side knop. The lappets each having a bird-like head with curled beaks and the foot plate/terminal is a horse head with flared nostrils. The pin is missing, as is very often the case, and there are patches of corrosion and adhesions.

Size: 132mm x 47mm x 19mm; Weight: 50g

Prov: Ex Essex Coin Auctions, from an old English collection

Ref: T. F. Martin, The Cruciform Brooch and Anglo-Saxon England, p48-49, fig,20

£320 SOLD #1661

Medieval base metal trade weight in a shield shape displaying a lion rampant within a roped border, hole at the top. Weights were usually made from lead and shield-shaped weights were used by merchants to weigh goods in markets, fairs and shops. The most common weights were 8, 4, 2 and 1 ounces, our is approximately 2 oz.

Size: 33mm; Weight: 65.94g/2oz or 1/8lb

Prov: Ex Hansons

£55 (P&P FREE to all locations) #1632

A beautiful Roman open work silver legionary applique with cornucopia. The applique has a conical body, recurve edge and shells adorned with moulded lines in a circular motif. Two rivets are still present, indicating the original use on flat metal such as armour.

Size: 75mm x 70mm; Weight: 40g

Prov: Ex Apollo Art Auctions; prevously in London gallery collection, previously from a private US collection acquired in the 1990s.

£780 (P&P FREE to all locations) #1632

A beautiful Roman zoomorphic brooch with remnants of red and blue enamelling in cells; depicting horse and rider. As is very often the case, the pin is missing as this was probably made from iron and the first to disintegrate. 

Grade: VF

Size: 32mm x 30mm, 4.47g

Ref: Hattatt p161, number 160

Prov: Found Norfolk, comes with old dealers ticket

£180 (FREE P&P to all locations) #1660

A Roman bottle blown from a pale yellow glass. The vessel features a bulbous body, which tapers into a tall cylindrical neck and terminates into an out-splayed, tubular rim. Iridescence and earthly encrustations on the surface. Some environmental damage near the base.

Size: 115mm x 60mm; Weight: 44g

Prov: Ex Apollo Art Auctions, London; prevously in UK collections.

£160 (P&P FREE to all locations)  

This beautiful jar has a tactile globular body showing swirls of colour in the matrix, it has a narrow neck and flat curving rim. The grade is Very Fine with a few very small natural flaws to the stone but no accidental or enviromental damage. There are remnants of encrustations to the internal space.

Size: 110mm x 10mm; Weight: 460g

Prov: Ex Apollo Art Auctions, London; prevously in Uk collections.

£460 (P&P FREE to all locations)

With relative peace came a flood of new techniques for glass production in the Roman world. The original sand/cast method of glass making was replaced by glass blowing, which revolutionised their designs. It not only became cheaper but it allowed the addition of metals and minerals to colour the glass plus lovely forms of iridescence, as seen in our example. Glass became the most popular form of container for perfumes and medicines as it wasn’t porous.

21mm x 17mm high!, good grade, much of the iridescence remaining along with small ground encrustations. Fragile.

£70 (P&P FREE to all locations)

A miniature axehead that was worn either as a talisman or used as a votive offering to the gods. The suspension loop allows it to still be worn, so would make a great gift. Can be supplied with either a leather thong type necklace or with a small display film suspension box (please message choice on purchase.) Copper alloy with patina. 22mm x 9mm. Only 1 left.

£70 (P&P FREE to all locations) 

Pendant with necklace - click here (use these links with mobiles) Pendant with display box - click here

Considered from the Merovingian period, this Gothic buckle has definite Roman styling and would have been worn by the higher status individual, possibly military due to its utilitarian rather than ornate design. There is one rivet left in place to the centre, sadly the others are missing.

Size: 25.27g, Weight: 53mm x 30mm

Grade: Fine+, from an American collector, previously from the Mansees collection formed in the 1950's.

£40 SOLD

A set of five authentic stone age arrowheads (otherwise known as points) from the Neolithic Saharan regions. Great for a historical gift or study. The points shown are typical and numerous sets are available.

£10 (P&P FREE to all locations)

Although the connection with Roman soldiers is unproven, the shape of this amulet hints at a Roman short sword or gladius particularly the Pompeian type. Most have a hole for suspension, and the fact that there is a wear line would indicate that it has been worn rather than attached like a mount. Being symmetrical would also indicate the use as a jewelry or amulet fixture. Its final use as a votive object is very likely. 41mm x 9mm, copper alloy, dark patina.

 SOLD