This is a lovely ancient Egyptian Scarab, 800-664 BC?, from the famous Mitry collection (see our Homepage). It is 5/8” long (16 mm) and made of steatite, an easy-to-carve stone that hardens when heated. Scarabs empowered life and resurrection and were often placed under mummy wrappings to protect the body and help it resurrect. This Scarab comes in a jewelry display cup.

3) This is a lovely ancient Egyptian Scarab, 1550-1070 BC, from the famous Mitry collection (see our Homepage). It is made of steatite, an easy-to-carve stone that hardens when heated. Scarabs empowered life and resurrection and were often placed under mummy wrappings to protect the body and help it resurrect. This Scarab comes in a jewelry display cup.

This is a lovely ancient Egyptian Scarab, 750-700 BC, from the famous Mitry collection (see our Homepage). It is 3/8” long (10 mm) and made of steatite, an easy-to-carve stone that hardens when heated. Scarabs empowered life and resurrection and were often placed under mummy wrappings to protect the body and help it resurrect. This Scarab comes in a jewelry display cup.

This is a lovely ancient Egyptian Scarab, c. 1550-1300 BC?, from the famous Mitry collection (see our Homepage). It is 3/8” long (10 mm) and made of steatite, an easy-to-carve stone that hardens when heated. Scarabs empowered life and resurrection and were often placed under mummy wrappings to protect the body and help it resurrect. This Scarab comes in a jewelry display cup.

This is a lovely ancient Egyptian Scarab, more than 2,300 years old, from the famous Mitry collection (see our Homepage). It is 7/16” long (11 mm) and made of steatite, an easy-to-carve stone that hardens when heated. Scarabs empowered life and resurrection and were often placed under mummy wrappings to protect the body and help it resurrect. This Scarab comes in a jewelry display cup.

Egypt, c. 3100 - 3000 BC, 12 1/2" H x 7" W, Ex Arte Primitivo Auction 38, lot 358, October 3, 2006. Private Maryland Collection acquired 1982 cf. For similar examples see Christie's, NY Dec 1996, #217, and the Brooklyn Museum, Predynastic and Archaic Egypt, #44. Ext $1500 - $2500

Interesting Cuneiform tablet, slightly rectangular and inscribed on all sides with Cunei text, Mesopotamian, probably Arkadian Cunei, late 3rd. millenium BC.

Untranslated by us.

Size: 33 x 31 mm.

Condition: Good Very fine or better, finely baked clay with almost glossy surfaces, no losses.

Ex. Old Private Collection

A very unusually and rare early security padlock from a strongbox, probably late 16th. century.

Perfectly working lock with original brass-soldering or coppering at the base. A heavy lock with a specially produced brass and iron key with elaborate slot for the period - very rare.

Size: c. 115 mm. tall and 61 mm. wide, the key is 103 mm. long.

Condition: Superb for this period, completely intact with fine brown patina.

Ex...

The largest key in the collection for the type and period, and fitting a large family chest or trunk in oak, mid 16th. century.

Very attractive key with a Gothic design and heavy reenforced bit. Remnants of old coppering to the details.

Size: 152 mm. long.

A very solidly built key for a large strong-box or treasury chest, c. mid 16th. century.

The key with a large, enforced bit with elaborately carved slots. The stem decorated with an octagonal collar and the bow typical late Gothic design.

The decoration of Gothic iron locks and keys was often elaborate and of the highest standard of workmanship...

A lovely key for a treasury chest, late 15th.- early 16th. century.

A solidly built key with enforced bit and elaborately carved hollow stem and the oval bow decorated in the gothic manor with three globes. A rare key!

The decoration of Gothic iron locks and keys was often elaborate and of the highest standard of workmanship. The motifs were frequently drawn from Gothic architecture, reproducing on a miniature scale complicated tracery patterns and even tiny statuettes...

A lovely key for a large strong-box or treasury chest, probably Italian, late 15th-early 16th. century.

A massive key with a large, enforced bit with elaborately carved slots. The stem and oval bow decorated in the gothic manor. Finely patinated with remnants of copper and gold from previous guilding...

Important large decorated iron belthook with key ring, Late Gothic, c. late 16th. century.

The fine belt hook with iron cut decoration on the front and the bended hook on the back. The hook with a large key ring for multible keys, sustained with a workable screw when keys are suspended to the ring.

Size: 17,6 cm. long and c 6,8 cm. wide.

Condition: Extremely fine for the type and age, with wear from use and lovely brown patina...

An attractive hard burnt terracotta plaque of female deity, probably Ishtar, with tall headdress and fine gown, babylonian, 2nd. mill. BC.

The godess is decorated with wedge-like decoration on her breasts and lower part of gown. On the back inscribed with 4 columns of Cuneiform, untranslated by us.

Size: c. 13 cm.

Condition: Very fine, intact with repaired hairline cracks runing though the middle and at the feets...

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 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.

The decoration of Gothic iron locks and keys was often elaborate and of the highest standard of workmanship. The motifs were frequently drawn from Gothic architecture, reproducing on a miniature scale complicated tracery patterns and even tiny statuettes...

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.

The decoration of Gothic iron locks and keys was often elaborate and of the highest standard of workmanship...

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 ...

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.

...

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 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 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...

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 ...

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, ...

Interesting seal or gaming token perhaps with an elaborate carving of a Sun symbol, probably 1st. millenium BC.

Rare piece carved in either a very durable bone or steatite (?), beautiful patina.

Size: 18 mm. in diameter.

Condition: Extremely fine.

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

A finely preserved small inscribed foundation cylinder, Neo-Babylonian Empire, c. 8th-6th. century BC.

The barrel shaped piece fully inscribed in Babylonian cuneiform. Untranslated but such cylinders usually has been attributed to Nebucadnezzar II, 604-562 B.C. They were stuck into buidings walls and is often long texts with praises to the builder and the gods, usually a king, just like foundation bricks.

Size: 60 mm. long and c. 25-26 mm. thick.

Condition: Good ...

A very early archaic bronze figure of seated Kore, Italic bronzeage, Etruscan, c. 7th. century BC.

A lovely figure with fine details of Kores archaic features, the elaborate gown and the wonderful expression. She wears a spiked diadem holding her long hair.
Very unusual depiction of Kore half seated, where the usual depiction is a motionless standing image.

Size: c. 69 mm. for the figure alone and 120 mm. incl. the vintage stepped podium.

Ex. Cristian Spinu...