Epitaph for Quirinia Felicia

This impressive bust is depicted with head turned slightly to the right and gaze lifted. His eyes are articulated, with the pupils indicated with a drill, giving the face a striking realism. The shoulders are draped with a cloak. Straight brows sit beneath a mass of thickly curling hair, which continues to a full beard. It is worked with great skill, evident in the heavy drill work articulating and highlighting the voluminous curls, and the highly polished surfaces, giving the appearance of soft skin. The contrast between these textures gives a chiaroscuro affect which is one of the main traits of the best Antonine busts. Roman marble portraits reached their apotheosis of craftmanship and technique under the Antonine emperors, as is evidenced in this masterful bust. The evolution of the style may be traced back to the emperor Hadrian, who was the first emperor to wear a full beard. The articulation of pupils and iris appears on busts of his lover Antinous, a novelty which continued in later Antonine portraits, such as this one. The features of this bust point to a possible identification of Emperor Lucius Verus...

Glazed ceramic bowl with a convex wall and everted rim. With a cobalt blue inscription in the centre which reads, “baraka li-sahibihi” (blessing to its owner). Ceramics such as t...

Two pairs of two halves from the same bar, finely detailed, with pointed ears and eyebrows, opaque yellow face, opaque red on the mouth, nose, eyes and ears, translucent cobalt blue edges to the mouth, nose and ears, with translucent emerald green leaves above and between the translucent cobalt blue brows and eye line, translucent pink pupils, with translucent cobalt blie and opaque white snake scales below the face, in translucent cobalt blue matrix, cut in the lower part of a cartouche design. These rare heads might represent the Agathos Daimon, the tutelary deity of Alexandria, who was also identified with Serapis, the male counterpart of Isis-Thermouthis (who in turn was a graecisized form of the early snake harvest goddess Renenutet). In a statue of Isis-Thermouthis in Alexandria museum (no. 25773, ex-collection King Farouk I), reproduced in Gotten, Pharaonen, no. 151, the snake goddess...

A baluster-shaped ceramic vase with siliceous paste painted in manganese and cobalt, under a transparent glaze. With hand painted blue and white decorations. Stone paste or ‘fritware’ vessels with lustre, turquoise, white and cobalt blue glazes were famously crafted in the northern Syrian city of Raqqa, situated on the Euphrates River. They were often utilitarian in design, but elegant and intricate in decoration. This present example was most likely used as a storage vessel. Like many transportable ceramics in the region, it is possible this piece was exported out of the city, either to be traded or as a container for more expensive goods. Published Collection H Hoffmann...

Standing bronze male figure, one hand held to his chest, the other extended in front. The extended arm ending in an oversized hand, which would have held a spear or possibly a thunde...

A mummiform ushabti in blue faience. Four registers of hieroglyphic characters are painted around the lower half of the ushabti, with a vertical column of hieroglyphs in the centre o...

ITEM: Military cheek piece of a helmet fragment with Jupiter’s eagle MATERIAL: Bronze CULTURE: Roman PERIOD: 3rd Century A.D DIMENSIONS: 180 mm x 123 mm CONDITION: Good condition PROVENANCE: Ex Alison Barker private collection, a retired London barrister, acquired between 1960s – 1990s BIBLIOGRAPHY: RUCINSKI, E., Get the picture?: Iconography of cheek pieces on Roman Imperial cavalry helmets...

ITEM: Scarab with prenomen for Amenhotep II MATERIAL: Steatite CULTURE: Egyptian PERIOD: New Kingdom, XVIIIth Dynasty, 1143 – 1417 B.C DIMENSIONS: 15 mm x 11 mm CONDITION: Good condition PROVENANCE: Ex American egyptologist collection, active in the early part of the 20th century, brought to the US with the family in 1954. Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export Licence. If you are from outside the European Union, we will have to apply for the export licence again for your country, this takes 4 to 6 weeks. Amenhotep II, the seventh pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty of ancient Egypt, ruled during the New Kingdom period around the 15th century BCE. Renowned for his military prowess, Amenhotep II expanded the Egyptian empire through numerous campaigns, solidifying control over territories in Nubia and the Levant. His expeditions into Syria and Canaan, notably the Battle of Megiddo, showcased his strategic acumen as he secured victories against local rebellions and coalitions, leaving behind inscriptions and reliefs that celebrated his triumphs. Beyond his military endeavors, Amenhotep II also left a mark through his architectural projects, albeit less pronounced compared to other pharaohs. He oversaw the construction of temples and monuments across Egypt, contributing to the cultural landscape of the time. Additionally, Amenhotep II was known for his personal interests in sports and physical activities, with depictions showcasing him engaging in hunting, chariot racing, and archery, reflecting the pursuits of Egyptian nobility and emphasizing the ideal of the warrior-king. While Amenhotep II's reign brought stability and prosperity to Egypt, his legacy is overshadowed by some of his predecessors and successors. Despite his military successes and contributions to Egyptian architecture, he is not as widely celebrated as figures like Thutmose III or Ramses II.

This is a kimono called Uchikake which Japanese women wear for wedding ceremony. It is said that the women wear the white uchikake for the reason of 'they can dyed in any color' and...

A Beautiful Japanese Andon Lantern for Tea Ceremony. This beautiful Japanese andon lantern is a stunning example of Japanese craftsmanship. It is made o...

ITEM: Oil lamp with leaves and fruit, Type Bussiere B III 1 MATERIAL: Terracotta CULTURE: Roman PERIOD: 1st – 2nd Century A.D DIMENSIONS: 20 mm x 65 mm x 90 mm CONDITION: Good condit...

ITEM: Romano-Egyptian cartonnage mummy mask depicting a female head MATERIAL: Linen and Gesso CULTURE: Egyptian, Roman period PERIOD: 1st Century B.C – 1st Century A.D DIMENSIONS: 20...