TimeLine Auctions: November 2020 Catalogue Auction

Welcome to our November ancient art, antiquities and coin auction. In late September we hosted our usual extensive vetting meeting, at which items were examined by a committee of specialists, and the sale was lotted shortly afterwards. During these challenging times, our lots continue to represent a great investment and security for our customers.

In this sale you will find objects from many notable private collections, including substantial parts of:

The Scammell collection of Roman and other artefacts
The Signo collection of cylinder seals
The Empire collection of rare Sassanian and other stamp seals

The sale also features many extraordinary British finds including:

King Edward I Seal Matrix for the City of York, lot 524, guided £6,000-£8,000
King James I's Personal Hawking Ring, lot 553, guided £4,000-£6,000
'The Bradwell' Anglo-Saxon Chess Piece, lot 492, guided £6,000-£8,000
'The Wisbech' Medieval Love Ring with Sapphire, lot 530, guided £6,000-£8,000
'The Ashwellthorpe' Celtic Staff Terminal, lot 490, guided £1,200-£1,700
'The Palgrave' Roman Gold Ring with Gemstone, lot 115, guided £800-£1,000
'The Shalford' Bronze Age Goldsmith's Anvil, lot 486, guided £800-£1,000
'The Nethergate' Anglo-Saxon Gilded Masked Mount, lot 494, guided £600-800
'The Greywell' Romanesque Seated Lion Statuette, lot 527, guided £1,000-£1,400
'The Fleet' Medieval Gold Ring with Holy Trinity, lot 531, guided £2,000-£3,000

One of the most eclectic objects available within these pages is lot 307, a Han Military Watchtower Model with Moat which was made to accompany the deceased in the afterlife. This fascinating object, finely modelled with military figures and animals, was previously the centrepiece of the celebrated collection of art formed by the famous anthropologist, artist and television presenter Desmond Morris.

We are also pleased to introduce a brand new, high tech feature to our online platform. Many lots will be accompanied by ‘3D Models’, allowing you to twist, turn and magnify the object, as if you were holding it before you. To trial this new feature, the following lots have been scheduled for 3D imaging: 1, 23, 24, 25, 38, 67, 68, 69, 71, 72, 159, 243, 249, 270, 282, 284, 382, 433, 434, 435, 437, 438, 439, 450, 468, 492, 493, 594. I welcome any feedback from customers regarding this new online feature and hope it can allow you to examine our lots in greater detail online.

I would also like to take this opportunity to extend my warmest greetings for the approaching holiday period, and wish you all a bright outlook for 2021.

Yours sincerely,