Ancient Suffolk Treasures to be sold in Bishop & Miller’s New Specialist Auction 20 Aug 2019 Auctions News Suffolk News

Bishop & Miller, the region’s leading independent and international auction house and valuation firm, is launching its Gentleman’s Library Auction; a new specialist Sale which will take place on Thursday 5th September. This unique and specialist Sale takes place from 09.30am at Bishop & Miller’s Stowmarket Salerooms. 

The Auction will feature a fascinating selection of ancient artefacts, including many discoveries made in Suffolk, as well as ethnographical items, early photographs from around the world, maps, books as well as travel and exploration objects of interest to collectors. 

Some of the Auction’s highlights includes Lot 299, “The Lakenheath Shield”, a stunning and very rare example of a Bronze Age Yetholm type copper alloy shield from around 1300B.C. to 975 B.C. which was discovered on a farm in Lakenheath, Suffolk. This exceptional item is valued at £10,000-£15,000. 

Oliver Miller, Managing Director at Bishop & Miller Auctioneers, says: “The shield was discovered in 2015 near Lakenheath by a metal detectorist, and what a find it was! This item is incredibly rare and in good condition – it’s a remarkable discovery and is one of only 27 shields ever found in the world. We are expecting keen interest from museums and serious collectors for this amazing artefact.” 

Also included in The Gentleman’s Sale is a fine selection Neolithic axe heads discovered in the 1960’s on a Suffolk farm near Brantham. One of the examples, Lot 325 is valued at £200-£300. Also featured in this new specialist Sale is a rare John Speed Map of the World valued at around £3,000-£5,000 and a Suffolk found Neolithic axe heads as well as a fascinating 19th Century Southwold Ship wreck painting which is valued at £300-£500. 

One lot featured in this Auction which has an intriguing connection to the mysterious and notorious Jack the Ripper is an 18 carat gold pocket watch, T bar chain and eye glass. This item was found by, and later belonged to, PC Edward Watkins. Edward Watkins was a London City Police Constable and was patrolling one night in September 1888 when he discovered Eddowes’s body. She is believed to be the fourth victim of Jack the Ripper and this gold watch was found in this location and is believed by some to once have possibly belonged to the Eddowes’s murderer. The item has been in the family’s possession since then and will be sold at auction under Lot 821 with an estimate of £600-£900. 

Oliver Miller, managing director and auctioneer at Bishop & Miller, continues: “We’re really excited to introduce this new specialist Auction to everyone. I have likened the selection of items available in this auction akin to walking into Sherlock Holmes’ dusty Victorian study! We have been busily compiling a vast array of interesting and an eclectic variety of collectibles for some time now, many of which have some really enticing stories and provenance. This new Auction offers our customers something a little different from our current Sales and we hope people will enjoy some of the quirky and unusual objects available to bid on.” 

For further information on Bishop & Miller’s specialist Sales, valuation events or to arrange a home visit please contact the team on: Tel: 01449 673088 or Email: enquiries@bm-auctions.co.uk, www.bishopandmillerauctions.co.uk.

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