1. Roman pottery bowl
This seemingly humble Roman pottery bowl from the 1st-2nd century AD is lifted by a cursive inscription.
The words Panem Sardinas Olei Vini (vacat) Vno(m) Vas Aq(u) ale Die Martis roughly translate as: ‘Bread, sardines and one bowl or water, oil and wine every Tuesday’.
The property of a Middlesex gentleman who acquired it in the 1980s, it carries an estimate of £500-700 at TimeLine Auctions in London on November 26.
View and bid for the Roman pottery bowl on thesaleroom.com.
2. Taxidermy display
Catherine Southon’s sale at Farleigh Golf Club on November 27 will offer a private collection of 47 lots of taxidermy put together by a vendor during the 1970s.
Most of the pieces were acquired from the well-known dealer Christopher Frost of The Enchanted Aviary. Several cases are by Rowland Ward including this display of partridges naturalistically arranged on faux rock with frosted grasses, above. The ebonised case is labelled Ward & Co Naturalists, Zoological Studios, 158 Piccadilly, 4 doors West of St James’s.
Estimate £300-500. View and bid for this Victorian taxidermy display on thesaleroom.com.
3. Silver pin cushion and ring tree
Some commercial small silver novelties at the C&T auction in Tunbridge Wells on November 27 include an early 20th century silver pin cushion and ring tree.
Marked for Arthur Johnson Smith, Chester 1909, it is formed as a tree with a monkey sat in its boughs.
Estimate £180-220. View and bid for this silver pin cushion and ring tree on thesaleroom.com.
4. Sèvres cup and saucer
This 18th century Sèvres porcelain coffee cup and saucer is decorated to a cobalt blue ground with a frieze of dancing classical figures, musical trophies and flowering urns within formal polychrome floral borders.
It has a gilded mark to the base numbered 2000 and dates to c.1780. The estimate is £1500-2500 at Stamford Auction Rooms, Lincolnshire, on November 30. View and bid for this Sèvres cup and saucer on thesaleroom.com.
5. Lighter and inkstand
The Bonhams sale of Fine Antique Arms, Armour & Militaria on November 27 includes a rare octagonal steel and ormolu tinder lighter and inkstand.
Made in Bohemia and dating from the mid-18th century, the sides are cast and chased in low relief with hunting scenes and game and waterfowl in a landscape. A flintlock mechanism provides the flame to light a candle.
Estimate £3000-4000.
View and bid for this lighter and inkstand on thesaleroom.com.