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.

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Egyptian mask comes to Somerset auction

14 September 2020

This Egyptian polychrome painted wood sarcophagus mask comes from the lid of an anthropoid coffin. These were coffins carved to the outline of the mummy’s body and decorated with the face and wig of the deceased.

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Dealers sell Egyptian statue from Thomas Cook collection to City of Leicester for £150,000

17 August 2020

An ancient Egyptian granite statue has been sold to the City of Leicester from the collection of travel business Thomas Cook in a deal negotiated by London dealers Oliver Forge and Brendan Lynch.

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Metal detectorist discovery of remains of 3000-year-old harness gives new insight into Bronze Age Scotland

13 August 2020

A discovery made by metal detectorists has been described as of national significance for archaeology.

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‘First signature’ tablet hits the £140,000 mark at Bloomsbury Auctions

13 July 2020

A US collector is the new owner of a 5000-year-old tablet that contains the earliest-known record of any personal name in history.

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PAD and Coinex fairs are latest to call off autumn events

10 July 2020

Two more stagings of London fairs have been cancelled due to Covid-19.

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Archaeological discoveries made by the public reach 1.5 million

09 July 2020

The number of archaeological objects unearthed by the British public since the start of The British Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) has reached 1.5 million items.

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Government issues export bar for Roman marble Celtic hounds in hope of finding UK buyer

08 July 2020

The owner of a pair of Celtic hounds has been temporarily prevented from exporting the sculptures by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

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Roman altar stands out among highlights of revamped art week

06 July 2020

More than 400 online enquiries came through the 'London Art Week' (LAW) website during its preview day last Thursday as it kicked off a new virtual format.

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The show goes on: London Art Week galleries open doors for a modified event

02 July 2020

An impressive Roman funerary altar is among the highlights at London Art Week (LAW), which promises to have much life starting with a preview day on July 2 and opening to the public on July 3.

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Jewels of the Egyptian 12th Dynasty emerge in Cambridge sale

29 June 2020

Archaeological discoveries were a continuous source of inspiration for jewellery in the 19th century. Ancient goldsmithing techniques were studied and relearned. Jewels found during excavations of Roman, Egyptian, Hellenistic and particularly Etruscan sites were copied or reinterpreted.

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Overall total at Christie’s Classic Week falls as sales pushed back until the autumn

25 June 2020

The postponement of three top-end paintings and objects sales meant that the overall total generated by Christie’s latest ‘Classic Week’ in New York was well down on previous years.

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Allow access to antiquities files, says Christie’s

22 June 2020

Following the removal of four lots from a New York sale, Christie’s has expressed frustration at being denied access to key information on possible looted antiquities.

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Tablet with ‘the earliest known record of any personal name in history’ offered at Bloomsbury Auctions

15 June 2020

An ancient writing tablet made famous by Yuval Noah Harari in his bestseller 'Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind' comes for auction in London next month.

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Market for illicit antiquities valued ‘in millions not billions’

15 June 2020

The antiquities trade has welcomed a new independent report that estimates the volume of looted objects on the market is much smaller than previous reports have suggested.

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Sotheby’s loses New York court case against Greece over ancient horse figurine

10 June 2020

The Greek ministry of culture has won a court ruling over auction house Sotheby’s involving the ownership of an 8th century BC horse figurine.

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I’ll get my sandals – a big welcome for Roman bronze

08 June 2020

Among the best-performing lots at the latest mammoth sale held by TimeLine in Harwich, Essex was this 1st-2nd century hollow-formed bronze foot.

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An Arts and Crafts lamp, an Ercol bench and a Roman bronze foot are among the five lots to watch at auction this week

01 June 2020

With estimates from £200-20,000 here are five previews of upcoming items this week.

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Roman bronze arm leads Daniel Katz sale at Sotheby’s

01 June 2020

A Roman bronze from the 1st century AD drew fervent competition and led Sotheby’s sale of works from the collection of London dealer Daniel Katz.

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Antiquities get ahead of the rest

25 May 2020

Among the top-estimated lots at the Lyon & Turnbull (25% buyer’s premium) sale of African & Oceanic Art, Antiquities and Natural History in Edinburgh on May 5 was a hammered bronze Apulo-Corinthian helmet from southern Italy, c.350-500BC.

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Antiquities headline Christie's ‘Classic Week’ online from June 2-19

18 May 2020

Offering a range of antiquities, Old Masters, 19th century art, sculpture, books and manuscripts, Christie’s ‘Classic Week’ of sales in New York will take place as a series of seven online auctions next month.

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