Roman statuette of an eagle on pedestal

ITEM: Statuette of Eros-Harpocrates MATERIAL: Bronze CULTURE: Roman PERIOD: 1st Century B.C – 1st Century A.D DIMENSIONS: 82 mm x 31 mm CONDITION: Good condition PROVENANCE: Ex Ameri...

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: Statuette of a horse MATERIAL: Pottery CULTURE: Chinese, Northern Wei Dynasty PERIOD: 386 – 535 A.D DIMENSIONS: 404 mm x 350 mm x 230 mm CONDITION: Good condition. Includes Th...

ITEM: Statuette of a horse MATERIAL: Pottery CULTURE: Chinese, Tang Dynasty PERIOD: 618 – 907 A.D DIMENSIONS: 560 mm x 530 mm x 200 mm CONDITION: Good condition. Includes Thermolumin...

ITEM: Portrait head of a Patrician MATERIAL: Marble CULTURE: Roman PERIOD: 1st Century B.C DIMENSIONS: 250 mm x 175 mm x 215 mm (without stand), Life-siz...

ITEM: Statuette of a Fat Lady MATERIAL: Pottery CULTURE: Chinese, Tang Dynasty PERIOD: 618 – 907 A.D DIMENSIONS: 655 mm x 265 mm x 210 mm CONDITION: Good condition. Includes Thermoluminescence test by Laboratory Kotalla (Reference 05B101123). Includes Certificate of Authenticity from Dutch gallery PROVENANCE: Ex Belgian private collection, acquired from Dutch art gallery 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. Due to the fragility and size of this piece, it can only be shipped within the European Union, United Kingdom and neighbouring countries that can be transported by road by private courier (door to door). This beautifully-finished ceramic attendant was made during what many consider to be China’s Golden Age, the Tang Dynasty. It was at this point that China’s outstanding technological and aesthetic achievements opened to external influences, resulting in the introduction of numerous new forms of self-expression, coupled with internal innovation and considerable social freedom. The Tang dynasty also saw the birth of the printed novel, significant musical and theatrical heritage and many of China’s best- known painters and artists. The Tang Dynasty was created on the 18th of June, 618 AD, when the Li family seized power from the last crumbling remnants of the preceding Sui Dynasty. This political and regal regime was long-lived, and lasted for almost 300 years. The imperial aspirations of the preceding periods and early Tang leaders led to unprecedented wealth, resulting in considerable socioeconomic stability, the development of trade networks and vast urbanisation for China’s exploding population (estimated at around 50 million people in the 8th century AD). The Tang rulers took cues from earlier periods, maintaining many of their administrative structures and systems intact. Even when dynastic and governmental institutions withdrew from management of the empire towards the end of the period – their authority undermined by localised rebellions and regional governors known as jiedushi –the systems were so well- established that they continued to operate regardless. The artworks created during this era are among China’s greatest cultural achievements. It was the greatest age for Chinese poetry and painting, and sculpture also developed (although there was a notable decline in Buddhist sculptures following repression of the faith by pro-Taoism administrations later in the regime). It is disarming to note that the eventual decline of imperial power, followed by the official end of the dynasty on the 4th of June 907, hardly affected the great artistic turnover. During the Tang Dynasty, restrictions were placed on the number of objects that could be included in tombs, an amount determined by an individual’s social rank. In spite of the limitations, a striking variety of tomb furnishings – known as mingqi – have been excavated. Entire retinues of ceramic figures – representing warriors, animals, entertainers, musicians, guardians and every other necessary category of assistant – were buried with the dead in order to provide for the afterlife. Warriors (lokapala) were put in place to defend the dead, while horses/ camels were provided for transport, and officials to run his estate in the hereafter. Of all the various types of mingqi, however, there are none more elegant or charming than the sculptures of sophisticated female courtiers, known – rather unfairly – as “fat ladies...

An Over Life-Size Powerful Roman Male Portrait Head of Constantine the Great (c.272 - 337) Wearing the ‘Imperial Oak Wreath’ the decorative border of his ‘tunic’ can still be clearly seen on the left hand side Marble Italy Early 4th Century AD SIZE: 38cm high, 24.5cm wide, 25cm deep - 15cm high, 9¾ ins wide, 10 ins deep PROVENANCE: Ex Private collection, Cambridge, England note: For a very similar over life-size portrait head of Constantine I (the Great) wearing an identical wreath dating from the early 4th century AD see: Yorkshire Museum, York, inv. no. ‘YORYM’ 1998.23. Found in ‘Eboracum’ (York) in 1823 LITERATURE: Rinaldi Tufi, S., Yorkshire. ‘Corpus Signorum Imperii Romani (Great Britain)’; vol. 1, fasc. 3, Yorkshire. Oxford University Press, 1983; 23, no. 38, pl. 12 In AD 306, Constantine was hailed emperor in the Roman city of York; he was the first emperor to convert to Christianity. Born in Naissus, the son of Flavius Constantius, and Helena, a woman of low birth and a christian. Following his campaigns in the eastern provinces, Constantine was recalled in 305 AD to fight alongside his father in the province of Britannia. After his father’s death in 306 AD, Constantine was acclaimed as ‘imperator’ by his army at Eboracum (York) eventually being declared victorious after the civil wars against emperors, Maxentius and Licinius to become sole ruler of the Roman Empire in 324 AD. Constantine’s Christian belief cannot be underestimated, establishing the foundations of ‘Western Christendom’. In 313 AD he was influential in the proclamation of the ‘Edict of Milan, declaring tolerance of Christianity within the Roman Empire. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the purported site of Jesus’s tomb...

Ancient Roman glass lachrymii, unguentaria, or vials, 4, all with iridescent patination, one with drawn feather patterns. Dimensions: Largest: 6.75" x 2.25" diameter. Dealer: S138XX

Prince Gautama Siddhartha was the son of Mayadevi and Suddhodana, king of the Sakya of Kapilavastu. At court, young Siddhartha led a joyful and carefree life, married Yasodhara and h...

A pair of Chinese brass pedestal stands, 19/20th century with pierced decoration Measures: 90cm wide, 92cm high.

A Qing dynasty Chinese carved jade figure of a bullock. 13 cm x 6cm x 5 cm. weight 600g see more pictures.

A bold and expressive Gandharan carved gray schist column capital fragment, circa 2nd - 3rd century, ancient region of Gandhara. The fragment of a c...