The scissors articulate with decorative moulding and columns of pricked dots on both sides of the lower body; shears with tapering blades with chamfered lower edges. 45 grams total, 11.2-13 cm

Found Billingsgate spoil from the Thames foreshore, London, UK.

Composed of a group of spherical banded agate 'eye' beads, each pierced laterally for stringing. 245 grams total, 21-29 mm

UK gallery, early 2000s.

Comprising four single-edged knives including one with openwork grip. 112 grams total, 10.5-15 cmFair condition.

Found Thames foreshore, London, UK, 1970s-1980s.
Ex UK collection.
Property of a Hampshire, UK gentleman.

Each displaying a design in relief: a crowned shield; worn design featuring a central lozenge; two facing figures; two armorials with raised designs flanking an object with a tiered base. 7.1 kg total, 13-14 cm

Acquired 1990s-early 2000s.
East Anglian private collection.

Cf. similar specimen in the British Museum, inventory no.OA.9377.

These glazed stove or floor tiles are similar to the ones of the great hall and the Tudor kitchens at Hampton Court Palace, made of ceramic, with a glaze to make it hard-wearing and washable. Not just the furnishings, but the palaces themselves were multi-coloured, with brick walls painted red, and exposed timbers in yellow, red, green and white.

With King William IV (1830-1837) modelled in the half-round beside a draped table with a crown, holding a scroll or map; horizontal base with abraded legend 'WILLIAM THE FOURTH'. 64 grams, 81 mm

Acquired 1960s-1990s.
Late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister.

Comprising a variety of glaze colours and tile designs, including buildings and landscapes, ducks, figural scenes, floral motifs. 3.6 kg total, 13 x13 - 13.5 x 13.5 cm

Acquired 1990s-early 2000s.
East Anglian private collection.

Including armorials and decorative designs, comprising bowls of various shapes and dates; together with a number of stems. 882 grams total, 35-79 mm

Acquired 1990s-early 2000s.
East Anglian private collection.

Discoid in plan with low-relief design of a crown above a sun, fleur-de-lis and rose, within ropework roundel, surrounding legend beginning 'SVB[SIDII PANNORVM]' 21 grams, 40 mm

Acquired on the UK market, 1990s.
Property of a retired academic, believed to have been recovered from the Thames foreshore.

Cf. Stuart F. Elton, Cloth Seals. An illustrated reference guide to the identification of lead seals attached to cloth, Oxford, 2017, p.221, from the Museum of London collection, MOL 92.27/7, for a very similar seal; see also the Southampton seal-matrix of this design, in Elton, p.28 [= PAS database SUR-AB43CB].

Modelled in the round standing on a domed base, wings outspread, head turned left, stylised detailing to the head and feathers. 20.9 grams, 56 mm

Found Nottinghamshire, UK.

Addorsed horse heads below the cross-guard, blade curving gently towards the tip, ribbed grip terminating in addorsed horse heads pommel, modelled in the round with semi-naturalistic detailing. 765 grams, 39 cm

Private UK collection, 1991.

One green-coloured cylindrical bead, a slightly smaller cylindrical bead of banded agate, and a truncated biconical bead with mottled patch, asymmetrical and likely reworked. 87 grams total, 42-56 mm

UK gallery, early 2000s.

Composed of a slender hoop, expanding shoulders decorated with white enamelled foliage and black enamelled pea-pod ornament, repeated around the bezel, bezel with box setting holding a table-cut ruby, white and black enamelled floral design to the underside; minor loss of enamel; likely from France; accompanied by a 'Les Enluminures' hinged presentation box. 4.57 grams, 23.32 mm overall, 18.77 mm internal diameter (approximate size British O, USA 7, Europe 14.98, Japan 14)

Acquired from Les Enluminures Ltd, Illinois, USA, 2016.
Property of an East Sussex collector.

Accompanied by a Les Enluminures certificate of authenticity.
Accompanied by a copy of the Les Enluminures invoice.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11671-197579.

Cf. Fuhring, P. ed., 'Le Style' cosse de pois' L'orfevrene et la gravure a Paris sous Louis XIII, in Cazette des Beaux Arts, January 2002, for the pea-pod ornament; cf. Chadour, A., Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, Leeds, 1994, vol. 1, no.701; cf. Oman, C., British Rings 800-1914, London, 1987, pl.96.c, for type; cf. Scarisbrick, D. et al., Toward an Art History of Medieval Rings: A private Collection, pp.204-205, for comparable.

Over the centuries, the ruby became a symbol of the amorous heart and a popular gemstone for betrothal or wedding rings in Western Europe. This gemstone was believed to symbolise the virtues of marriage and convey the desire for eternal matrimonial love. The ruby-red colour was often enhanced by setting the stone on top of a foil. The stones themselves were imported from as far afield as Thailand, Burma and Sri Lanka. Old inventories record them as 'balas rubies', which were sourced to decorate royal crowns. In the 17th century, the red colour was set-off by the pastel shades of satin which were fashionable in dress at the court of King Louis VIII, where the art of enamelling was also practiced.