Specialist Auction Sells Treasure Trove of Lots 9 Sep 2019 News

A rare Bronze age shield known as the “Lakenheath Shield” has sold for £12,000 to a UK collector at Bishop & Miller’s Gentleman’s Library Auction this month.

This ancient artefact was amongst many other treasures in the new specialist Sale which took place in Stowmarket, Suffolk. The so-called “Lakenheath Shield”, is 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. A piece like this has never been sold on the open-market before. 

Also included in this auction were a fascinating collection of axe heads discovered in the 1960’s on a Suffolk farm near Brantham which sold for £2,000, as well as a highly-sought after ancient John Speed map of the world created in 1651 which sold for £4,000. Two lots which held intriguing connections to the mysterious and notorious Jack the Ripper were a watch belonging to PC Edward Watkins who discovered Eddowes’s body, considered to be one of the Ripper’s victims, was sold for £600. And a knife and a bag possibly connected to Jack the Ripper himself was sold for £750. 

Other quirky items that sold to keen collectors included a taxidermy cat which fetched £800 and a silver elephant ornament which sold for £4,600. An example of the increasing demand for good quality Whiskey being driven by the Asian market was a fine bottle of Whiskey (lot 1096) which sold for £1,200 to bidder in Hong Kong. Oliver Miller, managing director and auctioneer at Bishop & Miller, continues: “This hotly anticipated auction certainly did not disappoint! We were so lucky to be able to auction such fascinating items such as the bronze age shield.

The high levels of interest in the electic selection of items was overwhelming with competitive bids on the phones, in the room and on line. This Auction was a true example of how varied and unpredictable this industry can be and why I love my job – from the beautiful to the bizarre there’s something for everyone in an auction room.

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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