Five antiquities estimated below £500 from a single owner collection

The Books, Medals, Militaria & Collectables sale at Cotswold Auction Company on February 9 features lots from Lionel Walrond.

Born in 1927, his parents were tenant farmers on a small dairy farm in Somerset. Sadly, both parents died before his fourth birthday and he was brought up by aunties and an uncle in Pitney, Somerset.

On leaving school he was not drawn to a life in farming but became interested in history and archaeology – an interest lead to the discovery of three Roman mosaics in south Somerset before his 18th birthday, the most famous being at the Low Ham Villa (the mosaic has pride of place in the Museum of Somerset).

Walrond fervently collected local historical artefacts and set up his own museum on the farm in a converted Second World War American Army Nissen hut. Local finds of Roman and Neolithic origin were displayed alongside agricultural bygones.

He moved to Stroud in 1955 to take up the post of curator at the Lansdown Museum, a post which he held for the following 37 years. He was a member of a number of local and national historical societies and was an elected fellow of the Museum Association. 

Here are five ideas for 'affordable' antiquities from the Walrond collection.

Egyptian jar

An Egyptian painted terracotta canopic jar with lid, representing one of the sons of Horus, c.1st millennium BC, pictured above, is estimated at £300-500.

An accompanying label reads Mummy Jar and Cover, dedicated to Maesthi(?) (Man Headed God) son of Horus(?), held stomach and large intestines. Hieroglyphics erased either for reuse or by enemy that occupier may not go to heaven 9-3-48.

At approximately 25cm high, the jar is estimated at £300-500.

View and bid for the Egyptian painted terracotta canopic jar with lid.

Ancient figurines

Egyptian Ushabti from the Walrond collection – estimate £200-300 at Cotswold Auction Company.

Estimated at £200-300 are two Egyptian blue glazed faience Ushabti (funerary figurines) of typical mummified form believed to be middle kingdom, c.1000BC. One has a line of vertical hieroglyphical text, and they stand 10cm and 11.5cm high (with some damage).

To bid for the two Egyptian blue glazed faience Ushabti try thesaleroom.com

Babylonian fragment

Babylonian terracotta cuneiform fragment from the Walrond collection – estimate £200-300 at Cotswold Auction Company.

This Babylonian terracotta cuneiform fragment, 7 x 9cm, comes with an accompanying written inscription: Fragment from the inscribed edge of a brick - the back and edges have been roughly flattened by the modern finder or vendor, middle parts of a four line inscription of Nebuchadnezzar II King of Babylon BC604-561, recording his restoration of E-Zida, the temple of the god Nabu at Borsippa, near Babylon, it ends with a prayer for victory and a happy reign.

Estimate £200-300.

You can view the Babylonian terracotta cuneiform fragment via thesaleroom.com

Greek lid and Roman lamp

Greek South Italian lid from a Lekanis and pottery Roman lamp from the Walrond collection – estimate £50-80 at Cotswold Auction Company.

This Greek south Italian lid from a Lekanis, with stylised anthemion decoration, c.3rd century BC, 7cm diameter, has a swing label inscribed Etruscan double vessel from Fry Collection, Somerdale, Near Bristol and 10-12-52 Mrs Clarke Antique Shop, Yeovil.

It is offered with a pottery Roman lamp, 8cm wide, at an estimate of £50-80.

View the Greek south Italian lid from a Lekanis and pottery Roman lamp on thesaleroom.com.

Bronze ewer

Early bronze age Cypriot ewer from the Walrond collection – estimate £100-150 at Cotswold Auction Company.

Estimated at £100-150, this early Bronze Age Cypriot terracotta ewer with incised geometric decoration with everted rim, curved handle to the bulbous body, dates from c.2500BC.

At approximately 13cm high, it bears a label inscribed Leeds Exhibition 1875, Property of Yandurth?, NoC7 27 and a swing label inscribed Etruscan(?) bottle from Fry Collection, Somerdale, Bristol and 10-12-52 Mrs Clarke Antique Shop, Yeovil.

The early Bronze Age Cypriot terracotta ewer is available on thesaleroom.com.