News in Brief – including a Bronze Age hoard found in the Scottish Borders

Part of the Bronze Age hoard found near Peebles in the Scottish Borders.

17 Aug 2020

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Find can shed light on the Bronze Age

A discovery made by metal detectorists has been described as of national significance for archaeology.

The find includes a complete horse harness and sword with some organic material still intact, such as leather and wood, giving archaeologists the chance to discover more about how the harness would have been connected and used.

Uncovered at a site near Peebles in the Scottish Borders, it is only the second time a hoard of this kind has been found in Scotland.

Dating from 1000-900BC, the items were discovered by Mariusz Stepien who was searching the field with friends on June 21 when he found a bronze object buried half a metre underground.

Stepien contacted the Treasure Trove Unit to report his find.

Archaeologists spent 22 days investigating the site and Stepien and his friends camped in the field and built a shelter to protect the find from the elements.

The hoard has been removed from the site in a large block of soil and taken to National Museums Collection Centre in Edinburgh where further excavations and research will take place.

Excalibur relocates to business park

Collectables specialist Excalibur Auctions in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, has relocated to Abbots Business Park in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire.

Vintage post box sawn from mount

A Royal Mail post or lamp box has been sawn from its mount in a Cotswold village and local police are hoping to trace it.

The theft was reported by Royal Mail and is believed to have taken place between 4.45pm on August 6 and 1pm on August 7 near to the village of Naunton in Gloucestershire. Anyone with information on this theft and the whereabouts of the stolen box should call 101 quoting the incident number 214 10/08/20.

Buyer has whole lotta love for LP

A copy of the Led Zeppelin II LP signed by Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and John Bonham took £12,500 (plus 15% buyer’s premium) at Bolton Auctions Rooms on August 10.

'Led Zeppelin II' LP signed by all band members – £12,500 at Bolton Auction Rooms.

Estimated at £2000-3000, it sold via thesaleroom.com. The LP was the original 1969 Atlantic Plum & Orange label with COA Tracks Ltd.

It was believed to have been signed in 1970 at Headley Grange while the band were recording Led Zeppelin III.

Bonham died in 1980 after a bout of heavy drinking.

In June, Christie’s New York sold the original 1969 artwork for the sleeve of Led Zeppelin’s debut LP for a hammer price of $260,000 (£209,675) – see Books and works on paper, ATG No 2454.

Mayfair art event now set for October

Mayfair Art Weekend has been rescheduled. Due to run in June, then rescheduled for late September, it has been shifted again. Following continued government legislation surrounding coronavirus, as well as an audience survey conducted in July regarding how visitors wished to approach the event, it is now scheduled for October 2-4.

The event will include a late-night Gallery Hop on Friday, during which visitors are guided around some of the participating galleries. The annual event showcases Mayfair galleries as they stage exhibitions, with an emphasis on the area’s Modern and Contemporary businesses. This year marks its seventh staging.

Battersea Dec confirms format

The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair has confirmed it will go ahead in October as a physical fair with new digital features.

It will run later than usual, from October 22-25, in line with government guidance. Around 140 exhibitors are set to stand at the usual venue of Battersea Evolution.

“As it has been for many in the creative industries, lockdown was tough for the art and antiques trade. We are so glad we’ll be able to offer the first major retail platform in nearly seven months for dealers, all of whom run small independent businesses,” organiser Jane Juran says.

Battersea Decorative will run from October 22-25.

Safety and social-distancing measures have been put in place and attendees will need to pre-book timed tickets to visit. Bookings open in early September.

Virtual features have been added to make the event accessible for those unable to attend. For example, remote customers will be able to buy directly from participating dealers.

The Decorative fair is one of only a few physical higher-end fairs now slated to go ahead for the remainder of 2020. Among the others are the Petworth Park Antiques & Fine Art Fair (September 11-13) and the Winter Art & Antiques Fair Olympia (November 3-8).