Ancient history is being celebrated through the centuries at Hansons thanks to our new Ancient Art, Antiquities and Classical Coins Auction which launches on July 30-31.
The first sale features 800 fascinating lots and is led by James Brenchley, a specialist in ancient art and antiquities for more than 10 years. Click here to view the catalogue.
James, appointed head of Hansons’ new Ancient Art, Antiquities & Classical Coins department, has successfully run his own business in ancient art sales and has sold many high-value and specialist items including a rare Egyptian wall fragment depicting an Amarna period scene which fetched more than £23,000.
He said: “I have a real love and passion for ancient history and I’m excited for the public to see the quality of expertise Hansons has in ancient art, antiquities, classical coins and metal detecting finds.”
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers and Hansons London, said: “We’re proud to announce the new jewel in the company crown – its newly established Antiquities, Ancient Art and Classical Coins department – including Historica and metal detecting finds.
“James is a former antiquities gallery owner and member of ADCAEA – the prestigious worldwide Association of Dealers and Collectors of Ancient and Ethnographic Art.
“In the coming months Hansons will offer people the opportunity to bid for ethically-chosen antiquities varying from Egyptian amulets, scarabs and shabti figures, to Greek and Roman pottery and bronze figures all the way through to Asian sculpture including Chinese terracotta figures and Gandharan sculpture.
“James has brought his passion for ancient art and antiquities to Hansons and we look forward to building a solid reputation for selling genuine, ethically-chosen antiquities and ancient art over the coming months and years.”
James, who has worked tirelessly to carefully catalogue and supervise photography of the hundreds of lots in this first auction, said: “We have some wonderful objects in the July sale including an Egyptian Cartonnage Wesekh Collar, circa 664 – 332 BC.
“This beautifully detailed cartonnage, also known as a usekhor or wesekh collar, is formed using layers of payprus or linen and would have adorned a mummified body.
“It’s made up of two sections consisting of a winged scarab beetle and a network of semi-circular rows depicting various shapes, including lotus flowers, circular rosettes and petal-shaped leaves.
“The cartonnage is painted in traditional colours of blue, red, green, white and yellow and portrays the beauty of ancient Egyptian art in burial.
“The winged scarab was a representation of the god Khepri, a manifestation of the sun-god Ra. It is a symbol frequently used on cartonnage and is believed to have protective qualities. Ra was a solar deity and so too was Khepri.
“The scarab beetle rolls its dung across the ground and it was thought that this act echoed the travel of the sun across the sky. Khepri, as a manifestation of Ra, was thought of as the morning sun, the sun that first rises. This ideology would have been incredibly sacred to the Egyptians, whose journey and re-birth in the afterlife was the most important thing. It has an estimate of £2,500-£3,000.”
Another lot which has survived through the mists of time is a marble statuette of a naked youth, 1st-4th century AD. Estimate £700-£1,200.
Also up for auction is a Viking gold ring, 9th-11th century AD, which features two tightly coiled spirals, each opposed to the other to form the bezel. Estimate £2,000-£2,500.
Particularly stunning is a Chinese Tang Dynasty Horse Statue, 618-906 AD. This large ceramic statue of a horse, head turned to the left and looking down, mouth open and eras pricked, has an estimate of £2,500-£3,500.
Browse the Ancient Art, Antiquities and Classical Coins Auction catalogue now by clicking HERE.
The Ancient Art, Antiquities & Classical Coins Auction will be held on July 30-31, starting at 10am each day, at Hansons Auctioneers, Heage Lane, Etwall, Derbyshire. To enter an item for the next auction, arrange a valuation or find out more, email [email protected].
