Antiquities & Artefacts

A complete long silver dress pin. The head is decorated with six large silver filigree complete rings with pellets of silver within and around the rings. There are three rings on each hemisphere, which are separated by a raised medial band of silver. The pin shank extends from within the head of the pin and slowly tapers to a point. A small loop hangs down from the ball.

Size: 73 x 10mm, 4.47g

Ref: Margeson (1993) p.11 no’s 26-28

Prov: Ex Essex Coin Auctions; from an Old English collection, purchased early 1990's

£170 (P&P FREE to UK other locations ask) #1873

Crescent-shaped pestle with attachment loop, together with matching mortar with recessed body, knop finial and pierced lug. They were used to grind herbs and pigments and the individual Celtic warrior would grind the woad pigments with a liquid and smear it on their face and body as an intimidation attempt before battle. They are rarely found together and the loops were used to attach to the belt for personal use.

Size: Pestle: 55 x 12 x 5mm, 8.65g; Mortar: 55 x 9 x 9mm, 8.89g

Ref: The British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) Database, record id.SF-4AFE39, for similar

Prov: Ex Timeline; found whilst searching with a metal detector in East Anglia, UK

£200 (P&P FREE to UK other locations ask) #1588

Geometric patterns cover the hollow-formed ornamental bulb to the bow, a sturdy curved pin, flange finial forming the catch. Also described with a "boat" or "sanguisuga" (leech-shaped) bow. High status. RARE

Size: 103 x 34 x 17mm, 30.93g

Prov: Ex Timeline; acquired on the German art market 1989-1995; with The Museum Gallery, London, UK, 2003 then the property of a London-based academic 2003-present.

£320 (P&P FREE to UK other locations ask) #1894

A zoomorphic brooch in the form of a peacock or swan shown in profile. Its body tapers into an elegantly curved, elongated neck and pointed tail feathers. Decorated with red and blue champlevé enamel representing the feathers. The reverse of the brooch is plain except for the original hinged pin holder and extensive catch. The pin is now missing.

Size: 33 x 18 x 6mm, 3.10g

Ref: Compare to Benet's 4th Ed Artefacts of England, pg 184, fig R07-0551; Hattatt, p361, fig. 1171

Prov: Ex Hansons

£180 (P&P FREE to UK other locations ask) #1617

A zoomorphic brooch in the form of a swimming duck decorated with a series of crescent-shaped panels with traces of enamel to represent the feathers. Most of the pin is intact with the very end missing. Occasionally found in East Anglia.

Size: 36 x 18 x 14mm, 6.95g

Ref: Hattatt, p360, fig. 219/621

Prov: Ex Hansons

£160 (P&P FREE to UK other locations ask) #1621

Bronze omega brooch with triangular knop-like finials and the pin is in place to annular area. Dark green patina and in a lovely condition. This type of omega brooch was probably worn on the shoulder or chest to close a cloak.

Size: 46 x 44 x 7mm, 18.59g

£130  (P&P FREE to UK other locations ask) #426a

This delightful figurine in the round, depicts Jupiter with left arm raised and right holding a thunderbolt. The patina indicates some age but although this was obviously found as a ground find due to the remaining sandy deposits, no provenance was available from the auctioneer and thus labelled ‘Roman Style.’

Size: 59 x 30mm, 38g

To read more discussion about this item see the Blog

£320 (P&P FREE to UK other locations ask) #2012

A lovely dragonesque plate fibula with an s-shaped openwork body and stylised animal head. The body is detailed with a central circular quatrefoil motif with surrounding cells of enamelling, some of which remains. Unusually, the pin is intact and as such makes this a rare and sought after piece.

Size: 49mm, 7g

Ref: R. Hattatt's 'Ancient Brooches', p.351, fig.210; Mackreth, 2011, Vol 1, Part 4, p187

£520 (P&P FREE to UK other locations ask) #2017

Beautiful ring showing two hands shaking each other. This symbol stood for friendship and was already used in Roman times. Metal detector find and dated accordingly due to other items found at the same site. Very good condition with the usual signs of age.

Size: 20mm x 7mm; Inner diameter 16mm; Weight: 2.75g

Prov: From a Dutch excavation find and collection

£70 (P&P FREE to all locations)

A slipper shaped miniature votive lamp, with raised knop to shoulder, decorated with geometric motifs in relief. Possibly glazed to give it the grey colour. Fine condition and rare. Small votive objects like this are not often found as they were cast into rivers or left at religious sites. 

Size: 62mm x 42mm x 20mm; Weight: 17.96g

Prov: Ex TimeLine, acquired from a UK collection; previously from a central London gallery before 2000

£150 (P&P FREE to all locations) #660a

A circular, bronze brooch decorated in cloisonné technique with a central motif of a four-petalled flower formed in opaque white inlay, set against a background of alternating deep and pale blue glass segments arranged radically. The design is enclosed within a raised border with a projecting lug on each side. The reverse preserves the remains of the catchplate and pin mechanism.

Size: 24mm x 24mm x 7mm; Weight: 5.27g

Ref: For similar see, British Museum number 1996,0902.1

Prov: From the private collection of an Essex gentleman; previously in an old British Collection in 1990s

£320 (P&P FREE to all locations) #1844

A heavy, Roman ring with a wide band made of bronze and then originally tinned (the tinning has been lost through environmental wear). This was a popular method of plating bronze items to give them a silver appearance. The engraving is home themed, with vases of plants and amphora. The aperture is 19mm across and could be worn is wished. This example was discovered in Yorkshire, England, from a collection of Michael Green. About ring size T.

Size: 23mm x 20mm x 15mm; Weight: 4.57g

£60 (P&P FREE to all locations)

A flat sectioned hoop with a triangular flanged extension form the face of the ring. Decorated with engraved patterns of interwoven crescents and feather motifs. The shapes of archer’s rings vary, but all protect the thumb on the string hand. It may have been used in conjunction with leather much as a modern archer’s finger guard would have been. It was used on the pad of the thumb in combination with the index finger to hold the string and arrow in place before letting loose.

Size: 36mm x 24mm x 7mm; Weight: 5.7g

£280 (P&P FREE to all locations) #1875

A cast bronze pendant in the form of a stylised wild board, depicted with a broad body, short legs, a pronounced snout and incised mane. A suspension loop is integrated at the top. The reverse is plain and slightly concave.

Size: 25mm x 24mm x 5mm; Weight: 4.4g

Ref: J. Graham-Campell, Viking Art, Thames and Hudson 2013, f.131, p.114

Prov: Ex Mayfair collection, acquired from an Ancient art gallery pre-2000

£520 (P&P FREE to all locations) #1846

A large example of a crossbow type brooch with onion knop finials and deep bow. This brooch displays a stepped junction with a trapezoidal foot featuring a ring and dot motif. It has an integral catchplate with a hinged pin still attached on the reverse. The crossbow brooch began as a symbol and possession of the common solider, and transfigured into a symbol of the elite by the late Roman period. 

Size: 86mm x 64mm x 31mm; Weight: 90g

Prov: Ex German Collection, 1990s

Ref: R. Hattatt's 'Ancient Brooches', p.370; Cf. Mackreth, D.F., 'Brooches in Late Iron Age and Roman Britain', vol.2, pl.140, item 12576

£170 (P&P FREE to all locations) #1893

A lovely small example of a kräftig profilierte type brooch featuring a coiled hinge. The bow angles out and down (remniscent of a knee brooch in shape) into a flat, rounded catchplate with an upturned foot. This brooch displays a rather large catchplate in which the pin still sits. Brooches as clothes fasteners have been made since the bronze age. This type of ‘Kräftig Profilierte’ (strongly profiled) fibula originated in Central Europe, probably Pannonia, roughly where Hungary is now and spread across as far as Britain.

Size: 35mm x 20mm x 12mm; Weight: 6.63g

Ref: R. Hattatt's 'Ancient Brooches', p.325, possibly item 335

£30 (P&P FREE to all locations)

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

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) #1622

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

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 environmental 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)

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)