1st century B.C.-early 1st century A.D. A British Iron Age vessel mount in the form of a hollow Celtic male head with large, elongated eyes having pierced pupils, possibly once with inlays, a triangular nose and slash mouth; the chin protruding slightly and the hair moulded around the brow and swept back over the scalp and around the sides with the head pierced at the rear to receive a swivel handle terminal and the breast formed to fit snugly to the vessel rim, with a rivet at front for holding it in place. See Brailsford, J.W., Later Prehistoric Antiquities of the British Isles, British Museum, 1953; p.70 and pl.XXII, item 2, for a similar mount; see Jope, E.M., Early Celtic Art in the British Isles, Oxford, 2000, pl.182, item d, for another example; see MacGregor, M., Early Celtic Art in North Britain, LUP, 1976, nos.315-320, for examples of themoner bovine type. See British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS), report number SUR-D01AF2 (this item). 29.4 grams, 42 mm high (45.6 grams total, 65 mm high including stand) (1 5/8 in.(2 1/2 in.)). Found whilst searching with a metal detector near Guildford, Surrey, UK, on Saturday 22nd August 2020, by Stuart Cameron. Apanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report number SUR-D01AF2, where it is described as 'A rare and important discovery' and 'This is a find of note and has been designated: Potential for inclusion in Britannia (Cambridge University Press)'. Apanied by an original handwritten note explaining the circumstances of finding by Stuart Cameron dated 23 May 2022. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is apanied by AIAD certificate no.11402-191635. The PAS reportments: 'This bucket mount is one of only a handful to exhibit human representations from late Iron Age Britain, and as such is a rare and important discovery. The majority of late Iron Age bucket mounts depict bovines, and where they do appear in human form, depict the figure wearing a horned helmet or with horns protruding from the head. This example differs markedly as there are no bovine features.' [A video of this lot is available to view on Timeline Auctions .]