Greek, Roman, Egyptian & Other Antiquities

The antiquities market comprises artefacts and works of art made by ancient civilisations including statues, coins, jewellery and arms and armour.

Provenance is one of the most important considerations when trading in this sector as there is a long history of looting from archaeological sites.


Egyptian limestone relief

UK museum sought for Egyptian limestone relief depicting women musicians in pharaoh’s palace

25 January 2023

A limestone relief depicting a group of female musicians in the palace of the Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten has been temporarily blocked from export.

Diocletian gold 10 aurei coin

Roman medallion masterpiece claims imperial coin record

23 January 2023

A spectacular Roman gold medallion took a record price at the latest New York International Numismatic Convention (NYINC).

Roman emperor Antoninus Pius

Dramatic contest for emperor’s head at Sotheby's auction

12 December 2022

A bust of Roman emperor Antoninus Pius sold for more than ten-times its low estimate at a Sotheby's sale

Ozengell Hoard

Anglo-Saxon hoard bought by Kent Archaeological Society ahead of London auction

27 October 2022

A large group of c.6-7th century Anglo-Saxon artefacts, known as the Ozengell Hoard, have been bought by Kent Archaeological Society.

Marble head

Met museum hands back looted artefacts

12 September 2022

Twenty-seven looted artefacts seized from New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art have been returned to Italy and Egypt as part of longrunning investigations by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Antiquities Trafficking Unit.

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Alexander’s distater – the spoils of conquest

12 September 2022

Alexander the Great’s conquest of the Persian Achaemenid empire delivered into his hands a vast wealth.

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Roman marble busts from the Finches

22 August 2022

On November 9-10 Sworders will conduct an auction of objects from the collection of pioneering dealer Jan Ellen Finch (1952-2021) of Finch & Co.

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Dealer Wace takes his shows on the road after gallery closure

22 August 2022

Different way of operating involves exhibitions, some non-commercial, in a variety of premises.

Mehernefer and his son

Egyptian Old Kingdom statue once owned by George III comes to auction

30 May 2022

This Egyptian Old Kingdom statue once owned by George III will be offered at Christie’s during its Classic Week sales in July.

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Cat sat on a shelf came all the way from Egypt

11 April 2022

Cats were represented in the social and religious practices of ancient Egypt for several millennia.

Anglo-Saxon gold shilling

Anglo-Saxon coin emerged from stubble

14 March 2022

An Anglo-Saxon gold shilling or thrymsa dating from 650- 670AD took £15,000 at Dix Noonan Webb in Mayfair.

Seized cultural goods

Interpol operation seizes nearly 10,000 illicit cultural artefacts

12 March 2022

An international police operation coordinated by Interpol has led to the seizure of 9408 antiquities and cultural artefacts including archaeological objects, furniture, coins, paintings, musical instruments and statuettes.

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Catherine Southon tees off to a fine start in 2022

21 February 2022

Egyptian antiquities and Rolex are a hit in first sale of the year held at Surrey golf club

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Honouring Antinous

14 February 2022

A three-quarters-length bust of a bare-chested Antinous, the favourite of Hadrian, appears on this medallic coin minted in Mantinea, Arcadia, c.134AD.

Bacchus bronze

Essex auction house helps in return of stolen Roman statue

09 February 2022

Essex saleroom TimeLine Auctions and a Dutch detective have worked together to return a stolen Roman statue to France after it was missing for 50 years.

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Egyptian king re-emerges for sale in Gloucestershire

31 January 2022

Greywacke sculpture headlines a series of high-flying results including £66,000 double bass

Roman marble bust

My goodness: the £27,000 Roman marble bust

17 January 2022

The eclectic collection of Alison Barker (1951-2021) of London and Chichester was sold by Trevanion in Whitchurch, Shropshire on January 12.

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Prehistoric art with curve appeal

10 January 2022

‘Venus’ figurines from the Upper Paleolithic are recognised as some of the earliest works of prehistoric art.

 Silver and gilt stag’s head rhyton

New York collector given lifetime ban after four-year antiquities investigation

13 December 2021

One of New York’s most prolific antiquities collectors has surrendered 180 ‘looted’ items from his collection and been barred for life from acquiring antiquities again.

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The record £16m love affair with Aphrodite

13 December 2021

More than 70 years after it was last seen in public, an Imperial Roman sculpture dubbed ‘The Hamilton Aphrodite’ has set a record for any ancient marble at auction.

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