TimeLine’s Nov. 26-Dec. 1 Antiquities Auction offers astounding trove of cultural artifacts dating from Bronze Age through Pre-Columbian era

Awe-inspiring six-day event features impeccably-curated and well-provenanced art objects, ancient coins, jewelry and historical arms and armor

HARWICH, U.K. – Britain’s TimeLine Auctions, the world’s foremost auctioneers of ancient art and antiquities, takes pride in announcing details of one of their largest-ever sales, a six-day event opening on Tuesday, November 26 and concluding on Sunday, December 1. This exciting auction welcomes the holiday season with an unprecedented, fully-curated array of rare and historically important objects, each notable for its quality and distinguished provenance. Bidders may participate worldwide through several bidding methods, including live at the gallery, by phone, absentee, or live online through a choice of several platforms. In addition to the generously illustrated online catalog, expertly-narrated, high-quality videos of many auction lots may be viewed on TimeLine Auctions’ website. 

The mysterious traditions of Ancient Egypt are recalled in one of the auction’s premier lots, a bronze head of a pharaoh dating to the Third Intermediate Period, 21st-22nd Dynasty, circa 1069-900 BC. Crafted as a hollow-form mask with a reeded headdress, the face has later gold inlays on its inlaid eyes and eyebrows, as do the chin straps of the subject’s plaited “false beard.” Standing 10 5/8 inches inclusive of its stand, this mesmerizing artwork has a long trail of ownership that can be traced back to the 1960s, when it was part of a French family collection. In 2003, it appeared at an exhibition sale at Rennes Encheres (Bretagne); and 10 years later at Mansour Gallery in London. Most recently, it was held in successive UK private collections. It comes to auction with an academic report by Egyptologist Paul Whelan and is estimated at £40,000-£60,000 ($50,510-$75,770).

An early Dynastic (IIIB, 2400-2340 BC) terracotta administrative cuneiform tablet is pillow-shaped and serves to record the owners or shepherds tending 146 sheep. The densely cuneiform text is etched into the tablet’s two broad faces and one edge, rendering a striking appearance. This fascinating relic was acquired from Laemmie Gallery in Los Angeles in the early 1970s and remained in the same hands until its 2011 auction at Bonhams, London. Later, it was part of a private central European collection. It now comes to auction at TimeLine with an £18,000-£24,000 ($22,730-$30,310) estimate.

Many of the most highly-prized relics of Ancient Rome will convey with an academic report from the renowned authority Dr Raffaele D’Amato. One such item is an extraordinarily beautiful life-size 2nd-3rd century AD Eastern Roman carved limestone bust depicts a Palmyrene lady of obvious wealth. Her wavy hair is enclosed by a loosely draped headdress held onto a low turban by a diadem with a high-relief ornament. Additionally, she wears attractive drop earrings and a necklace of graduated beads. The sculpture measures 19¾ inches (50cm,) inclusive of its custom stand, and weighs 29.95kg (66lbs). Since at least 1971, it was held in a private UK collection. In 2001, it was acquired from Rupert Wace Ancient Art in London and subsequently joined the collection of M R Davis of Bristol, England. The bust will be offered with a £10,000-£14,000 ($12,630-$17,680) estimate. 

Also accompanied by a report from Dr D’Amato, a late Roman bronze oil lamp with a gryphon-form handle and stand dates to the 5th-7th century AD. It has a carinated body with an elongated nozzle emerging from a lotus flower on which sits a dolphin. It is further embellished with dove decorations and a Chi Rho symbol on both sides of its body. Its path of ownership can be traced to the German art market and subsequent private ownership in Europe from the 1970s to the early 2000s. Upon its later acquisition and ownership by descent, it passed to a UK private collection. The auction estimate is £30,000-£40,000 ($37,880-$50,510).

A large Roman bronze chariot fitting with an imago clipeata of a priest of Mithras was created in the late 3rd to early 4th century AD and presents as a facing bust of a mature man with a neatly trimmed beard and deep-set eyes. He wears a short-sleeved tunic and conical cap and holds an egg, the symbol of eternal time, in his left hand. The piece was previously with the famed J J Klejman, NYC, 1963; Gallery Six, NYC, 1991; and Christie’s, New York (December 11, 2014 auction, Lot #156, estimate: $50,000-$70,000). It is mounted on a custom-made display stand (total height: 9 5/8in or 24.5cm) and will transfer to the winning bidder with a report from Dr D’Amato. Estimate: £25,000-£35,000 ($31,570-$44,200) 

A life-size Roman club from a statue of Hercules, 1st-2nd century AD, is formed as a hollow bronze shank with a domed end, detailed with a series of regularly-placed knop projections on piriform pads. Mounted on a custom display stand, it measures 21 5/8in (55cm). Its contemporary line of provenance begins with a North American collection in the 1990s, followed by European and British private ownership, most recently the collection of a London gentleman beginning in the 2000s. Backed by an academic report prepared by Dr D’Amato, it is expected to achieve a winning bid of £15,000-£20,000 ($18,940-$25,260). 

The auction includes several exceptional artworks featuring female subjects. A stunning 14th century Byzantine fresco panel depicts three women, perhaps queens or wise virgins, wearing jeweled crowns and clothing richly decorated with precious stones and pearls. The painting is possibly a representation of the Last Judgment as mentioned in the Apocalypse (Chapter IV, Verse 4), or the wise virgins of the parable of Matthew, Chapter 25. The panel measures 15¾ inches by 15¾ inches (40cm x 40cm) and weighs 5.08kg (11lbs 3oz). A D’Amato report accompanies this auction lot which is estimated at £25,000-£35,000 ($31,570-$44,200). 

A large and fittingly dramatic 2nd century AD Roman marble relief depicts a female tragedy theatre mask modeled in the half-round, with strongly delineated features and a sorrowful face with open mouth. Colossal heads of its type are consistent with components of great architecture seen in the temples and theatres of Roman Asia Minor. The auction example weighs a hefty 66lbs and might have served as a capital at the top of a column. This remarkable survivor comes with an academic report from Dr. D’Amato and is estimated at £8,000-£10,000 ($10,100-$12,630). 

An outstanding example of Byzantine artistry, a 6th-7th century AD marble table top features a dished central panel bordered with 17 carved socket roundels, each having a figural or emblematic ornament, such as a peacock, lamb, goat, etc. It is further enhanced with depictions of ivy and other botanical details. The piece has a steel-reinforced backing and has been fitted with professionally-made lift-on wall brackets to enable its display. It measures 40 inches (102cm) in diameter and weighs 87kg (192lbs). Acquired in London in the early 2000s, it was later part of a North American collection, then passed into the hands of a London gentleman, also in the 2000s. With an academic report by Dr D’Amato, it is entered in the auction with a £25,000-£35,000 ($31,570-$44,200) estimate.

Deemed an “object of cultural” interest by the British Secretary of State’s Expert Adviser and officially recorded as such, the “Kingsworthy” Anglo-Saxon gilt-bronze Woden’s-head applique was created in the form of a hirsute male head with a horned helmet or mask. Its discoid eyes are accented by garnet (?) cloison inserts. This marvelous antiquity was discovered in Kingsworthy, Winchester, Hampshire, UK, in 2017, and has been widely published. TimeLine Auctions is pleased to include it as a featured highlight of the November 26 session and has assigned it a £12,000-£17,000 ($15,150-$21,470) estimate.

TimeLine’s Nov. 26-Dec. 1, 2024 auction will be held live at the company’s head office located at The Court House, 363 Main Rd., Harwich, Essex CO12 4DN, UK. All lots featured in TimeLine’s printed catalog will be auctioned during the Nov. 26 opening session. Internet bidders may pre-register online. Goods may be previewed in person at the gallery by prior arrangement only. Auction start time: 7am US Eastern time/12pm (midday) GMT. All remote forms of bidding will be available, including absentee, by phone (please book phone line 48 hours ahead of time) or live via the Internet through TimeLine’s bidding platform or LiveAuctioneers. TimeLine Auctions accepts payments in GBP and ships worldwide. Questions: call +44 7494 866514 or email Aaron Hammond at [email protected]. Website: https://timelineauctions.com.