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.


Roman sculpture

Aphrodite back on sale after 70 years takes £16m at Sotheby's setting an auction record

08 December 2021

More than 70 years after it was last seen in public, a sculpture dubbed 'The Hamilton Aphrodite' set a record for any ancient marble sculpture at auction.

Anglo Saxon coin hoard

‘Largest ever’ Anglo-Saxon coin hoard discovered in UK

08 November 2021

The largest ever Anglo-Saxon gold coin hoard discovered in the UK has been declared treasure after a complex inquest into the case.

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Pick of the week: Bidders ponder riddle of the Sphinx statues

18 October 2021

A pair of Sphinx garden ornaments estimated at just £300-500 at a Suffolk auction were hammered down at £195,000.

The Ryedale Roman Bronzes

Yorkshire Museum buys Ryedale Roman Bronzes from London dealer with help from wealthy donor

15 October 2021

A hoard of Roman bronzes discovered by metal detectors and sold at auction by Hansons in May has been sold to the Yorkshire Museum.

Portrait of Sophocles

Art dealership Tomasso hit by break-in

04 October 2021

A group of sculptures and works of art has been stolen during an overnight raid at central London dealership Tomasso.

Anglo Saxon brooch

Anglo-Saxon brooch recovered but rest of hoard still at large

20 September 2021

A renewed plea for eight Anglo-Saxon brooches still missing following a theft in 1995 has been issued after the recovery of one of the group.

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Remembering the glyphic arts

13 September 2021

In addition to its uniqueness and connection to the past, a big attraction to owning a piece of ancient jewellery is that it can still be worn.

Anglo Saxon brooch

Stolen Anglo-Saxon brooch returned to museum after 26 years

11 September 2021

An Anglo-Saxon brooch stolen from Rutland County Museum has been returned 26 years after it went missing.

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Marble and so much Moore

21 June 2021

Polymath Gerald Moore’s collection and his own artwork both attract bidders as Summers Place saleroom returns to action

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Panther with long provenance

24 May 2021

Hindman is holding a sale of antiquities and ancient art in Chicago on May 27 which will feature this Greek (Hellenistic) marble head of a panther.

Statue

Ancient Libyan statue returned home with the help of The British Museum and HMRC

11 May 2021

A funerary statue from Cyrene (near present-day Shahhat in Libya) dating to the 2nd century BC is being returned to Libya.

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Multi-discipline Drouot delights

26 April 2021

Paris auction hub best-sellers from March range across variety of collecting fields and eras.

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Akhenaten gets his place in the sun

19 April 2021

The sale of Islamic Art & Antiquities at Roseberys London (25% buyer’s premium) on March 31 included this New Kingdom yellow quartzite shabti fragment.

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Galway silver shines in Lewes auction

19 April 2021

The West as well as the East made a major contribution to the success of Gorringe’s £1m sale on March 30 where, overall, 86% of the 593 lots sold.

Marcus Aurelius bust

Ritual bronzes unearthed in Yorkshire come to auction at Hansons

12 April 2021

A hoard of Romano-British bronzes discovered by metal detectorists in North Yorkshire last year will be offered at auction.

Snail man object

Museums buy more Treasure finds as metal detecting discoveries soar

23 March 2021

Artefacts found buried in the ground by metal detectors across the UK has yet again increased Treasure finds allowing museums to boost their collections.

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Antiquities from Cotswolds local history hero turn heads at auction

22 February 2021

A recent sale at Cotswold Auction Company (22% buyer’s premium) included a single-owner collection of antiquities from Lionel Walrond (1927-2020).

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Roman mosaic to remain in Dorset after fundraising success

22 February 2021

A Roman floor panel sold at auction in 2018 and then to an international buyer will be reunited with two other fragments from the same mosaic after a successful fundraising appeal to keep it in the UK.

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Monk and satyr both answer prayers of vendors

15 February 2021

Two pieces of sculpture – both catalogued as 19th century copies – made much higher than expected prices in the UK regions last month.

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London dealers sell 12th dynasty Egyptian relief to German museum

13 January 2021

An Egyptian polychrome painted limestone relief from the 12th dynasty has been bought by the State Museum of Egyptian Art in Munich, Germany.

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