Catalog (1923)

Interesting slim design iron key, came with the Roman and early medieval keys, but probably c. 17th. century.

Condition: Nice VF, excellent metal.

Ex. Important old Danish collection of keys.

A very rare Early medieval / Byzantine bronze key c. 10th-12th. cent.

Interesting key first time in stock with a round bow and large rectangular slotted bit and hollow stem.

Size: 83 mm. long.

Condition: Nice VF, fine metal great patina, a small metal flaw from the making.

Ex. Important old Danish collection of keys.

A fine condition bronze key of the typical Roman design, c. 1st.-3rd. century AD.

Size: 63-64 mm. long.

Condition: Extremely fine, superb with even green patina.

Ex. Important old Danish collection of keys.

A high quality and very large Byzantine / darkage bronze key, ca. 6th.-9th. century AD.

The key is finely made with a square bow withy protuding finial and a two-section hollow stem.

Size: 107 mm. long.

Condition: Extremely fine, superb with dark green enamel patina. A condition rarity as such.

Ex. Important old Danish collection of keys.

A very attractive Byzantine or darkage bronze chest key approx 6th.-9th. century AD.

The key is finely made with a round bow and square decoration to the hollow stem.

Size: 75 mm. long.

Condition: Extremely fine, superb with even green patina. A condition rarity as such.

Ex. Important old Danish collection of keys.

A very attractive Byzantine or darkage bronze chest key approx 6th.-9th. century AD.

The key is very finely made with a hexagonal bow and decoration to the hollow stem.

Size: 65-66 mm. long.

Condition: Good very fine, very nice mottled green and red patina. A condition rarity as such.

Ex. Important old Danish collection of keys.

A nice and scarce early iron key probably from a passage door, European, Renaissance, c. Late 14th.-Early 15th. century.

The key with an oval bow and a square stem. The wide bit with a flat design.

Size: 11,7 cm.

Condition: Nice Very fine, intact dark iron patina corrosion but sound metal beneath.

Ex. Important old Danish collection of keys.

A fine smaller iron key from a chest, Gothic type, early renaissance, c. 14th. century AD.

The key with a complicated S-shaped bit and gothic compartement bow. The stem is square and then round and solid.

Size: 68 mm.

Condition: VF, intact with some corrosion, but nice and stable.

Ex. Important old Danish collection of keys.

A lovely Egyptian pre-dynastic macehead of squat Piriform, 4th.-3rd. mill. BC.

Very attractive fully polished surfaces and symethric.

Size: c. 49 mm. wide.

Condition: Extremely fine.

Provenance: Cristian Spinu collection, Ex. Helios Gallery and formerly in a 1970s Connecticut (US) private collection.

A very rare full size early gate key in an extraordinary condition, European, late 13th.-14th. century.

Beautiful key with a round bow flute, a long solid stem, large bit with complicated slots.

Size: Nearly 20 cm. and the bit measure 5,6 cm. wide, fitting a very thick gate.

Condition: Good very fine, intact and lovely metal, thus scarce.

Ex. Important old Danish collection of keys.

As one of the rarest keys in the present collection, we're selling, here's a full size early gate key in an extraordinary condition, European, 14th. century.

Beautiful key with a Gothic fire-welded three-pass flute, a long straight and hollow stem, folded and hammered, and two slots in the rectangular bit.

Size: 21,6 cm. - a huge key for this period.

Condition: Extremely fine, lovely metal.

Ex. Important old Danish collection of keys.

A superb condition larger iron key, European, Late Medieval, c. 13th.-14th. century.

The key with a doomed bow and the stem ending in a long spike. The bit with a cruciform slot. Probably a passage door key.

Size: 14,6 cm.

Condition: Extremely fine, completely intact with superficial black iron patina and fine metal beneath.

Ex. Important old Danish collection of keys.

A superb condition iron key probably from a passage door, European, Renaissance, c. Early 15th. century.

A large and impressive key of the c. 15th. century design with an oval bow and a tappering stem. The wide bit with a flat design. Very attractive!

Size: 14,4 cm.

Condition: About extremely fine, completely intact with superficial dark iron patina and extremely fine metal beneath.

Ex. Important old Danish collection of keys.

A rare and superb condition iron key of an unusual length, European, Late Medieval, c. 14th century or a slightly earlier.

A large and impressive key of the c. 13th.-14th. century design with an oval bow and the stem ending in a long spike, but with the wide slotted bit placed just below the finial. A very complicated slot, possibly from a large oak casket.

Size: 14,1 cm.

Condition: About extremely fine, completely intact with dark patina and very good metal be...

A large and very early key, European, Late Medieval, c. 12th.-13th. century.

The key has a doomed bow and the stem ending in a long spike. The wide and unusual large bit with a complicated slot, probably a castle passage door key.

Size: 15,2 cm.

Condition: Very fine, tiny loss and othervise completely intact.

Ex. Important old Danish collection of keys.

A rare and superb condition iron key of an unusual length, European, Late Medieval, c. 13th. century.

A large and impressive key of the c. 13th. century design with an doomed bow and the stem ending in a long spike. The wide bit with a cruciform slot with 'teeth' below. A front door key, possible from clerical building.

Size: 16,8 cm.

Condition: Good very fine, completely intact with superficial iron patina and fine metal beneath.

Ex. Important old ...

A very rare and superb condition iron Cupboard key, European, probably English, 15th. century (c.1450-1520).

Very interesting key of a sturdy design with a Gothic floral bow in openwork. The bit with a double S-shape forming a cross in the center.



Note: The key with a hollow stem and inside the stem was a rolled up 19th./early 20th century collectors tag in stained brownish paper with ink writing in English (see picture!).



Size: 11,6 cm. - a su...

Excessively rare and superb condition bronze and iron key, European, Early renaissance, 14th.-15th. century (c.1380-1450).

Very interesting heavy bronze bow of a Gothic design and the stem and bit made of iron. A very complicated bit of an S-shape.

The key was probably from a money box or jewellery box, due to the complicated bit and heavy design.

Size: 11 cm. - a large and heavy key for the period.

Condition: Extremely fine, lovely metal.

...

A large bronze seal with a loop on the back and elaborate design with smaller cross in the center, Bactria, 3rd. millenium BC.

The seal belongs to the group of varied mostly circular metal stamp seals relief cast in bronze or copper alloy, classified as so-called compartmented seals (a term first used in 1943 by the British archaeologist Stuart Pigott – 1943. P. 179–180, fig. 4) Reff. See Sandro Salvatori Bactria and Margiana Seals: A New Assessment of Their Chronological Positio...

A large bronze seal with a loop on the back and elaborate design with smaller cross in the center, Bactria, 3rd. millenium BC.

The seal belongs to the group of varied mostly circular metal stamp seals relief cast in bronze or copper alloy, classified as so-called compartmented seals (a term first used in 1943 by the British archaeologist Stuart Pigott – 1943. P. 179–180, fig. 4) Reff. See Sandro Salvatori Bactria and Margiana Seals: A New Assessment of Their Chronological Positio...

A large and elaborate bronze seal with a loop on the back in extraordinary condition, Bactria, 3rd. millenium BC.

A round seal with a an almost floral ornamentation in the center and a circle around in the openwork style. The seal belongs to the group of varied mostly circular metal stamp seals relief cast in bronze or copper alloy, classified as so-called compartmented seals (a term first used in 1943 by the British archaeologist Stuart Pigott – 1943. P. 179–180, fig. 4) Reff. S...

A large bronze seal with a loop on the back and elaborate cross designs, Bactria, 3rd. millenium BC.

A round seal with a solid cross in the center and a circle around in the openwork style. The seal belongs to the group of varied mostly circular metal stamp seals relief cast in bronze or copper alloy, classified as so-called compartmented seals (a term first used in 1943 by the British archaeologist Stuart Pigott – 1943. P. 179–180, fig. 4) Reff. See Sandro Salvatori Bactria and ...

A large bronze seal with a loop on the back and elaborate cross designs, Bactria, 3rd. millenium BC.

A round seal with a solid cross in the center and a circle around in the openwork style. The seal belongs to the group of varied mostly circular metal stamp seals relief cast in bronze or copper alloy, classified as so-called compartmented seals (a term first used in 1943 by the British archaeologist Stuart Pigott – 1943. P. 179–180, fig. 4) Reff. See Sandro Salvatori Bactria and ...

Reddish limestone. Animal battle scene with crossing bulls and crescent moon standard, worshippers in between. A larger seal in an attractive red-orange stone. Isin-Larsa period, Old Babylonian, ca. 2002-1594 BC.

Height 26 mm and diameter is 13 cm., so fairly thick.

Condition: Very fine, smooth wear but intact with a nice patina.

Provenance: The Karl Müller collection, Germany 1950-1977. Comes with COA and his imprint.

A nice large/thick faience Ushabti, Third Intermediate Period, 21/22th dynasty (ca 1085-713BC)

A blue-green faience shabti, wearing the headband and two hoes. Inscribed with clear hieroglyphs at the lower front. Details are added in black.

Size: 128 mm. tall.

Condition: Near very fine, intact but with hairline reattached feet and some minor losses and corrosion with much uncleaned deposits.

Ex. Cristian Spinu Collection, Ex. Timeline Originals UK, with...

An interesting amulethic stamp seal, dating back to the Neolithic period of Mesopotamia/Anatolia, c. 7th.-6th. millenium BC.

Shaped as a triangular amulet with a grit-pattern carved in the base.

Size: 26 x 23 mm.

Condition: About VF, with few tiny losses.

This seal comes with hard impression and COA to the below collection.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and important collection between 1985 - 20...

A rectagular bifacial stamp seal with a large handle in a black serpentine stone. The seal is carved with an impression of an animal in the handle as well as a larger depiction in the base of a deity standing on the back of a four-legged animal. Unidentified objects on either side of the deity, perhaps symbolizing weapons. Northern Mesopotamia, and probably later 2nd. millenium BC.

Size: 21-22 mm. long x 18 mm. wide, c. 16 mm. tall.

Condition: Good Very fine, completely...

A substantial and nicely carved stamp seal in a black serpentine stone, carved as a tall pyramid, North-West Mesopotamian city states, after the colapse of the Hittite Empire, late 2nd.- Early 1st. millenium BC.

Highly iteresting seal carving of the base, which is probably an animal standing on another larger animal (or podium) within a dotted frame (?) It needs cleaning and more research! The seal itself is carved with incised lines and grit-patterns, which is probably mere decoratio...

An attractive large stamp seal of the stylized scaraboid form, oval with a round back and carved in the base in deep relief with a standing lion, tail lifted and a bird with spread wings above it's back, Mesopotamia, Middle-Assyrian period, later 2nd. millenium BC.

Size: 26 x 22 mm.

Condition: VF, intact with some wear and patina.

This seal comes with hard impression and COA to the below collection.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberlä...

A very attractive large stamp seal of the hemispheric design / round gable form, Late Ubaid to Uruk period of central-northern Mesopotamia, 4th. millenium BC.

Finely polished seal in a nice black serpentine stone, and carved with a scarce and peculiar pattern of cross angles under symethric horisontal lines!

Size: 31 mm. in diameter.

Condition: Nice VF, some smooth wear but intact and with a nice ancient patina.

This seal comes with hard impression an...

A thick cylinder seal of greyish stone showing a worshipper introduced to a seated god by a Demigod, probably another godess in the field but weak. Ur III Period, 3rd millennium BC.

Size: 15,5 mm. thick and 21 mm tall.

Condition: Near VF, intact but with some wear and embedded earthern encrustations. Never the less quite attractive in hand.

Provenance: The Karl Müller collection, Germany 1950-1977. Comes with COA and our imprint.

An elegant large and important bronze oil lamp, c. 1st-2nd. Century AD.

The cast lamp with foot-ring, pear-shaped body and spreading nozzle, the handle terminating in a finely cast head of a horse with slightly open mouthThe circular hole in the nozzle holds the wick. Interestingly, BMC has an almost identical style lamp, reportedly found at Qasr Ibrim, an important archaeological site in Lower Nubia, in the south of modern-day Egypt, which was then part of the Roman empire.

IOnteresting lot of some scarcer keys, all dating late 17th.-early 19th. century.

Size: 82-116 mm. in length.

Condition: Near VF to EF, the later ones of very good metal and quite attractive!

Ex. Danish Collection of keys.

A pair of attractive early European iron keys, with remnants of copper on the larger one, c. 16th. century.

Lot includes a large 14,5 cm. long key with remnants of copper plating and cross cut bit, early 16th. century, perhaps even earlier. The other key with a hearthshaped bow, measuring 10,7 cm. c. 16th. century.

Condition: Very fine, nice metal with a thick and stable iron patina.

Ex. Danish Collection of keys.

A very beautiful late renaissance to early Baroque door lock plate, probably german or Northern Europe, c. late 16th.-early 17th. century.

Fine openwork style iron wrought and cut and nicely etched with floral decorations.

Size: 24,5 cm. long.

Ex. Danish Collection of keys.

A huge and exceptional 33-34 cm. massive gate key, European renaissance period of the 15th./16th. century.

By some length and weight the largest key we've ever handled or seen for sale so far! The bow round and the stem from wrought and folded metal, the bit with an S-shaped slot. Amazing post-medieval antique!

Size: 33-34 cm. long and weighing more than 750 grams! This would be a single key for a gate keeper of the city wals somewhere to carry in his key ring, since it...

A rare folding key, probably British, and late 18th/19th. century.

This type of key is of course a 'must have' for serious Key and Lock collectors and quite difficult to find on the market.

Size: 196 mm. when opened and 113 mm. closed, making it a very large key of the type.

Condition: Good Very fine, excellent metal with minor rust and black patina.

Reff. see an identical smaller key offered at the Sothebys 'Collections & Collectors' sale 2016 / lot 6...

A rare type of iron key from box or cabinet very, European c. later 16th. century.

An interesting key with a disc shaped decoration on the bow and complicated stem and bit.

Size: 92 mm. long.

Condition: Nice VF, good metal.

Ex. Danish Collection of keys.

A rare type of iron key from box or cabinet very, European c. later 16th. century.

An interesting key with a disc shaped decoration on the bow and complicated stem and bit.

Size: 95 mm. long.

Condition: Near VF, some corrosion.

Ex. Danish Collection of keys.

A very nice and elaborate iron key of the Venethian openwork style, fitting for a casket or jewelry box, Venice, 15th.-16th. century.

An interesting version of this type with a complicated iron cut bow with an octagonal web motif and a spendid finial for a key-ring at the top. Nice piece with remnants of copper inlays in the bow and stem.

Size: 98 mm. long.

Ex. Danish Collection of keys.

A massive and very rare key from a large iron strongbox or bank box, probably Germany, c. later 16th. century AD.

Probably made in German with a complicated bit and very large size.

We've added a picture of a larger male hand holding the key to show the proportions of the piece.

Lenght: 17 cm. and the bow is around 8 cm. wide. The weight is stunning 476 grams.

Condition: Good very fine, fine metal with a thick and stable iron patina.

Ex. Dani...

Attractive Late Gothic style, German christian brass censor, Northern Germany, c. mid 17th. century.

An incense burner that would have been hanging in a church. The Vessel is decorated with three female busts in the Gothic style from which each of the three long chains are suspended. A the top a circular plate with a cutout brass finial.

Size: c. 52 cm. as a hanging censor, incl. chains and c. 17 cm. for the vessel in height.

Condition: Choice and intact with be...

A lovely icon with Christ Pantokrator. Russian Empire, 19th century.

Composite tempera on wood. Two vertical back sponki.

An icon with a large amount of thick gilt. Background and nimbus gilded and elaborately punched, fine floral ornamental border, meticulously punched and with coloured accents, ancient Greek and Cyrillic inscriptions.

Height 26,7cm, width 21,9cm.

Ex. German private collection, aquired 1985-1995.

A rare pair of very early and beautiful baroque Pewter candlesticks, pricket type, probably germany or England, 17th. century.

The prickets was made in iron and the pair is stamped with clear touchmarks of the crowned Tudor rose and another with angel.

Size 31-32 cm. tall.

Condition: Choice very fine and intact. Few minor bends, fine patina.

Provenance: Private Collection of Bjørn Roepstorff, an important Danish castle / mansion collection of Early Eu...

A lovely Qing Dynasty porcelain jar with cover c. 18th. century.

A seafind in an extremely fine condition!

Size: 6,8 cm. tall and 7,8 cm. wide.

Condition: Extremely fine, a seafind with encrusted patina in the interiour.

Ex. Danish private Collection.

A lovely Qing Dynasty porcelain jar with cover, c. 18th. century.

A seafind in an extremely fine condition!

Size: 9,8 cm. tall and 9,5 cm. wide.

Condition: Extremely fine, a seafind with encrusted patina in the interiour.

Ex. Danish private Collection.

A lovely Qing Dynasty porcelain jar with cover, c. 18th.century.

A seafind in an extremely fine condition!

Size: 9,5 cm. tall and 10 cm. wide.

Condition: Extremely fine, a seafind with encrusted patina in the interiour.

Ex. Danish private Collection.

A lovely Late Gothic style, German christian bronze or bell-metal censor, with fine gilt and hanging in Iron-cut cruciform chains, also adorned with firegilt globular hangers, Northern Germany, c. mid 17th. century.

An incense burner that would have been hanging in a church. The Vessel is decorated with three female busts in the Gothic style from which each of the three long chains are suspended. A the top a circular plate with a cutout brass finial.

Size: 60-61 cm. as a ha...

A large and impressive baroque pewter Chalice with lid, made in Germany dated 1724 / ANNO 1733!

With a large inscription in fine writing and here dated ANNO 1733 by the owner, but on the stamps inside the lid, the maker has dated it 1724. Maker is 'Morten Muhlhiesen Smidt' - the original note with a detailed description of the maker etc. in German comes with the sale.

The inscription is a gift inscription perhaps Guild related, to an Andreas Nitchke from Johann Michel Beck...

A lovely and extremely rare type of Westerwald vessel with handle, Germany, c. late 16th.-early 17th. century.

The vessel decorated with fine gothic looking lions and rossettes as spacers with manganese blue.

Size: c. 22 cm. wide incl the handle and 14,3 cm tall.

Condition: Nice Very fine for the early type, completely intact but for a closed crack with short hairlines, just below the handle to the right. Never repaired and very stable and sound.

Ex....

An attractive and very rare large tankard, Germany, Cologne area, dating to the 16th. century.

The tall brown saltglazed stoneware tankard, decorated with three historical emperors and great generals, namely Karl the Great, Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great with floral and figural spacers in between. Pewter lid.

Size: 29 cm. tall.

Condition: F-VF, affordable since it's partly restored and with some repainting to cover the connection of the shards. Looks int...

A large Alberello vase or jar in choice condition, probably Sicilian or Spanish and dating to the later 17th. century.

Finely decorated with maganese blue on a white ground with floral motifs. The alberello of a waisted form.

Size: c. 23,7 cm. tall - very large for these.

Condition: Good Very fine and very choice for type, one small glaze chip to the body and a couple of short hairlines going nowhere, no chips to either base or rim. Very sound and can be used for...

Beautiful and very early Italian Majolica Faience, Apothecary Jar, marked Bassano and dated to the year 1715!

Early dated European Apothecary jars are very rarely found and this is a great specimen in blue and white glaze and Gothic writing. The mixture held in the jar was 'Sempe De Portulaca'. Albarello shape and quite large.

Size: c. 21 cm. tall and 12 cm. wide.

Condtion: Good Very fine for the type and age! Only few minor glaze chips and a very short hairline ...

Interesting stone stamp seal, reportedly found in Amúng Ebene, Western Mesopotamian / Eastern Anatolia border, Ubaid period 5th. mill. BC.

Size: 19 mm. x 18 mm.

Condition: Fine, losses and deposits and be cleaned.

This seal comes with hard impression and original ID-card from below collection, see pictures.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and important collection between 1985 - 2000s, bought at reputable dea...

Interesting and rare seal, probably made out of a Spindlewhorl, carved in serpentine and a with a deep relief carving, nicely composed with globules, Mesopotamia, probably Uruk period, later 4th.-3rd. mill. BC.

Size: 22 mm. in diameter.

Condition: Good Very fine.

This seal comes with hard impression and original ID-card from below collection, see pictures.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and important collect...

A nice seal, carved in black stone with a knob handle, Western Asia, Neo-Hittite states, c. 1200-700 BC

Triangular seal plate, engraved with a 4-legged animal, snake below and another animal above!

Size: 18-19 mm. in diameter.

Condition: Nice very fine.

This seal comes with hard impression and original ID-card from below collection, see pictures.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and important coll...

A scarce and attractive seal dating to the late neolithic period, Halaf, Western Mesopotamia c. 6th. mill. BC.

Finely carved in a black stone with a medium tall handle, and carved with a grit pattern in the base. Finding place given as Amúng Ebene, near Ancient Antioch!

Size: 25 mm x 22 mm. and 10 mm. tall.

Condition: Nice VF or better! Light wear to base-

Comes with hard impression and original ID-card from the collection. It was aquired in 1993.

An interesting and rare motif of a coiled on a Ubaid period stamp seal of the round gable type, Mesopotamia c. 5th.-4th. millenium BC.

Size: c. 20 mm.

Condition: About Very fine, some light chipping.

This seal comes with hard impression and original ID-card from below collection, see pictures.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and important collection between 1985 - 2000s, bought at reputable dealers and from ...

A quite rare stamp seal of a type with a large engraved in the base and a smaller seal engraving of the top of the high handle, Eastern Anatolia / Western Mesopotamia, Pre-halaf-Halaf period, c. 6th. mill. BC.

A rare stoneage seal and finely carved and polished.

Size: 24 mm. long and 15 mm. tall.

Condition: Nice Very fine or better, intact.

This seal comes with hard impression and original ID-card from below collection, see pictures.

Prove...

An interesting and scarce stamp seal, carved and finely polished in white stone, perhaps marple, and engraved in the base with globules, Uruk period, 4th.-3rd. millenium BC.

Size: c. 16 mm. and 13 mm tall.

Condition: Near Extremely fine.

This seal comes with hard impression and original ID-card from below collection, see pictures.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and important collection between 1985 - 2000s, ...