LiveAuctioneers will provide Internet live bidding.
The lots range across many cultures and time periods: Antiquities within easy reach of beginners’ budgets jostle on the catalog pages with rarities expected to draw bids up to thousands of dollars. This is truly an event for everyone, including visitors to London on the day, and those around the world bidding live online as the sale takes place.
Leading the parade of high value items is a sapphire-mounted gold Medieval nativity reliquary pendant (lot 760) depicting a finely engraved nativity scene, with the Trinity above. Dating from circa the 15th century, formerly enameled, and probably English, its sides are inscribed in black letter script with “me tibi virgo pia genetrix […] ista Maria.” The pendant measures 46.7 mm and its weight is 10.68 grams. Condition is extremely fine, and this excessively rare piece is expected to reach $33,000.
From circa the fourth-fifth century B.C., lot 448 is a bronze infantry helmet of the classic Lucanian type with hinged cheek-pieces and a carinated dome skull with repoussé band detailing over the brow. It has a short leaf-shaped nasal with thick rim, and a scrolled rear neck. Lucanian helmets were widely used throughout Greece and southern Italy. This rare specimen, in very fine condition and with minor restoration, comes from an old English collection and is estimated to reach $23,000.
Other striking pieces certain to generate interest on the day include lot 404: an Egyptian 26th Dynasty, glazed composition shabti figurine, nearly 7 inches in height and dating from circa 664-525 B.C., with eight rows of hieroglyphic text impressed in the lower body, (expected to fetch $3,000); and lot 802: a circa 15th-century knight’s armorial seal matrix with a crested helm, a shield of arms, and the inscription “IOHAN BRIDSALE” in black letter script. Almost 1.6 inches in height, this perfectly patinated copper-alloy piece should attract bids up to $8,000. From more than 100 ancient rings in the auction, lot 772 is a superb circa 15th-century gold example with a rectangular bezel depicting the engraved figure of St. Catherine with sword and wheel. Weighing 2.98 grams, it is expected to reach $6,500.
Although the number of coins in this latest auction falls short of the number of antiquities, there are nevertheless some superb numismatic gems on offer. Feast your eyes on lot 030 and recall Julius Caesar’s immortal words, “Et tu Brute?” This is a gold stater depicting Brutus, leader of the assassins, as a Roman consul in Thrace. The obverse shows Brutus flanked by two of his officers; the reverse has an eagle raising a wreath in its left claw. Bids up to $1,500 are expected.
“Our greatest achievement,” said CEO Brett Hammond, “is that in the space of just four sales TimeLine Auctions has gained the loyal support of so many collectors from around the world. I’m proud that we have so much to offer our modest, as well as our biggest, clients. If you are new to our auctions please view the fully illustrated catalog and register to bid absentee, or live via the Internet as the sale takes place.”
For further details contact Christopher Wren at +44 (0) 1708 222824.
ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE
