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WHYTES
SINCE 1783
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Circa 1200 to 500BC. Celtic twisted gold torc.
Weight: approximately 103 grams, overall 3 inches in diameter, and 3/8
inch thick , 0.9937 fine gold. Assay stamped ‘1000’ circa 1930 in
Germany.
Provenance: Found on the shores of the River Danube, circa 1930 by
the present owner’s grandfather, and assay marked at the time in
Germany.
Other Notes: There are several types of rigid gold and sometimes bronze
necklaces and collars of the later European Bronze Age, from around
1200 BC, many of which are classed as “torcs”. They are mostly twisted
in various conformations, including the “twisted ribbon” type, where a
thin strip of gold is twisted into a spiral. Other examples twist a bar
with a square or X section, or just use round wire, with both types in
the three 12th– or 11th-century BC specimens found at Tiers Cross,
Pembrokeshire, Wales. The Milton Keynes Hoard, contained two large
examples of thicker rounded forms, as also used for bracelets. The
quality of gold varied with 24 carat examples, such as this, being an
indication of the status and importance of the individual that owned it.
For example a hoard found at the Vix grave of a noble woman in France
included a 24 carat torc weighing 500g.
€
8,000-
€
10,000 (£6,400-£8,000 approx)
4
An Irish Bronze Age cloak pin
4¾ x 1in. (12.07 x 2.54cm)
€
70-
€
100 (£60-£80 approx)
5
100BC to 900AD collection of small Celtic to Viking period artefacts
Includes circa 100BC Votive figure, Votive axe, Herm amulet, Viking 9th
century AD book clasp or belt mount with wolf motif, and a couple of
pieces from Persia and Assyria. (12)
€
300-
€
500 (£240-£400 approx)
6
1601 (4 October) Mayor of Barnstaple letter regarding “the
preparation of shipping for the transportation of soldiers in to
Ireland”
Interesting letter from John Delbridge, Mayor of Barnstaple dated 4
October 1601, to “Mr. Bowier” in London, about “the preparation of
shipping for the transportation of soldiers in to Ireland,” with address
on verso. The soldiers to be transported to Ireland were reinforcements
for Lord Mountjoy, who had been obliged to abandon his campaign
against Tyrone by the landing of a Spanish force at Kinsale in
September of that year.
€
300-
€
500 (£240-£400 approx)
7
Catherine of Braganza (1638 - 1705) autograph signed letter
A one page letter from Catherine of Braganza, Queen of Charles II,
dated 14 October 1679, to James Butler, “Our Attorney General”,
instructing him to draw up letters patent appointing Robert Jackson “to
be Our Particular Revievr. of Our Rents and Revenues in the County of
Yorke & Lenox Lands”, countersigned by Henry Hyde, second Earl of
Clarendon. 13¼ x 9in. (33.66 x 22.86cm)
Cleanly torn and repaired, mounted.
€
500-
€
700 (£400-£560 approx)
8
1654 - A soldier in Cromwell’s Army sells his grant of land.
“I John Richmond soldier in Colonel Henry Prittie’s Troops” nominate “
my well beloved friend Robert Browne to act as my lawfull Attorney”
with power “to enter into and take possession of all lands, houses
tenements hereditaments with ye appurtenances which shall be given
allotted us - for service in Ireland from ye Eleventh day of August 1651
to ye twentyith day of October 1653” Signed by John Richmond with
Seal intact. “Witnesses present at ye signing, sealing and delivery John
Broadway, John Hunter”. Signed by both witnesses. [John Richmond
served as a Colonel with Cromwell’s Roundheads]
€
600-
€
800 (£480-£640 approx)
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