Antiques & Collectibles

Antiques & Collectibles Remains to be seen after village dig

By Chris Tripp newsdesk@blackmorevale.net Elizabeth’s story of her house had me the unearthing of intrigued. around 22,500 early Through a mutual fourth century Roman friend I was coins in a field next to introduced to

we are OPEN

Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 5pm 1st Sunday of the month 10am - 4pm

the old

GRAIN

STORE empo�iu

A mini emporium of treasures with a quirky, tea room. contact: 07745 477795 or theoldgrainstoreemporium@outlook.com follow us on & @TheOldGrainstoreEmporium

The Old Grainstore Emporium | Shaftesbury Lane | Blandford | DT11 7EG

Free valuations & home visits House clearances arranged Probate & Insurance valuations

A French Belle Epoque display table, of bombe form, sold for £4800

www.busby.co.uk

Contact info@busby.co.uk 01308 420 100

Elizabeth because she wanted to know more about the Roman activity in her village of Nether Compton and that is why I was now sitting in her 15th century cottage next to the site of the find. The coins were of Emperor Constantine of around AD 330340, of small denomination and in mint condition. Some years before she had arranged to have a geophysics survey undertaken on the field and the results showed not only regular medieval field systems but also the remains of a large ditched enclosure, one half of which had been unfortunately destroyed by a sunken lane. With the permission of the landowner Dorset Diggers Community Archaeology Group planned to excavate this ditch and hopefully find artefacts which would tell us the date of when it was first dug. Was it connected to the coin hoard? As we carefully cut a section through the width of the ditch and followed its V-shape into the earth we were pleased to find beautiful black, shiny, decorated pottery called Black Burnished Ware. This is a fairly common pottery found on Roman sites of higher status and made locally in what is now Poole and distributed to other parts of Britain and the Roman

ACE OF SPADES: Chris Tripp at the Nether Compton dig Empire. We also found some very fragile plaster and other building materials in the fine, dark soil of the ditch. Two plaster pieces were particularly intriguing. They were very fine and in strange shapes, suggesting that they were probably created by people rendering their buildings to make them waterproof and able to take paint, which means that there were some well made dwellings in the immediate area of our site. The metal detecting club, who found the hoard of coins, have also found many pieces of tessera (small, square pieces of stone or clay) that would have been used in mosaics. What does this tell us? The pottery expert could only give us dates from the Late Iron Age to Early Roman, but with the building materials coming from the same context, even in the same area of the ditch fill, it is highly probable that they have been deposited at the same time. Thus the pottery would be Early Roman of the first century. The shape of the ditch would also point to it being dug just after the invasion of Britain by the Romans in AD 43. If that is the case then this site is very important indeed. Not many Roman camps have been dug, although many have been identified. We now know that the hoard was deposited much later than the ditch. The pot is first century and the hoard early fourth century. It is likely that the ditches were still visible when the hoard was buried and it may be the case that a memory of the enclosure was one reason as to why the hoard was buried here, where Roman soldiers once slept in their tents.

A 19th century Japanese carved ivory okimono in the form of a fisherman, a Chinese Republic millefiore pierced vase, A Howard style upholstered armchair and, right, a Guild of Handicraft Arts & Crafts silver cream jug designed by Charles Robert Ashbee

Due to the present Government guidelines stating that Auction Rooms Massive two-day sale are classed as non-essential retail outlets and would need to close, Clarke’s to see out 2020 in style Auctions have sadly had to & Collectibles sale iridescent vivid colour. are being offered at £600postpone their 1,000-lot traditionally held between Other interesting items £800. November sale and will be Christmas and New Year include a silver amethyst If you have any small and amalgamating it with their will also incorporate their cabochon cream jug interesting things you think bumper two-day sale to be Chinese and Asian Arts sale, designed by Charles Robert might be suitable for this held on Wednesday and of which there are over Ashbee for the Guild of sale please give them a call Thursday, December 30 and 31. three hundred lots already entered. Handicrafts, estimated at £700 - £1,000. In the on 01747 855109 before December 4. An 18th century walnut chest on stand Alongside many other These include a collection furniture section is an 18th auction rooms in the UK of jades, Chinese and century walnut chest-onthey are allowed to offer Japanese ceramics, bronze stand. This classic antique ‘click & collect’ facilities and are following guidelines to ensure the safety of their figures and censers etc and one of the more interesting lots is a Chinese white metal piece of furniture would fit beautifully in a property of the same period and carries CLARKE’S customers. They have found that hosting their sales on the two major UK and kingfisher feather headdress, probably Qing dynasty (1851-1861). an estimate of £200-£400. Also consigned are a pair of late 19th / early 20th century AUCTIONS auction platforms, the- For over 2,000 years Royal figured walnut open Auctioneers & Valuers saleroom.com and and the wealthy Chinese bookcases, practical, easyliveauction.com, they have used kingfisher functional and carrying an know that their catalogue feathers as an inlay for estimate of £300-£500, a will be viewed by buyers decorating fine objects and Howard style armchair, Antiques, from every corner of the world, ensuring that they adornment. The process is called tian-tsui and the upholstered in blue and gold silk material, estimated at Collectables achieve the best results they feathers are cut and glued £300-£400 and a George III & Asian Art can for their vendors. onto precious metals, Hepplewhite period Having to postpone their papier-mache or wood upholstered armchair with November 14 sale means that their two-day Antiques mimicking a finish like cloisonne but with a more an estimate of £100-£200. Their pictures and prints Next sale: Wednesday and

We Buy RECORDS, COLLECTIONS section of 150 plus lots include a set of six 19th century engravings depicting scenes of Bristol A Guild of Handicraft Arts & Crafts silver cream jug designed by Charles Robert Ashbee. Estimate £700 - £1,000 Thursday, 30 and 31 December

LARGE and SMALL. Call BILL 01747 811000 Email bill@rebornreco rds.co.uk A set of six 19th century engravings of Bristol by Nicholas Pocock and Clifton by artist Nicholas Pocock (British 1740-1821). Born in Bristol, he is known for his detailed paintings of naval battles and coastal scenes and this set of six framed paintings Please contact Richard Clarke or Karen Marshall on 01747 855109 Station Road, Semley, Shaftesbury, SP7 9BU enquiries@clarkesauctions.co.uk clarkesauctions.co.uk