With oval body and suspension loop to the base, central device a running stag, bearing a legend reading '* S'Iohannis Neirnvt' for 'seal of John Neirnuit' of the the royal council. 9.34 grams, 33 mm

Found on Inhust Farm, Baughurst, Hampshire, UK.
From the collection of a Caerphilly, UK, gentleman formed since 1990.

Accompanied by a copy of a museum report with reference no.NMGWPA 2008 (SU 570 612).

Barrel-shaped with high-relief moulding to the shank, discoid bezel with central ram/ibex and legend to the tondo. 2.66 grams, 20.31 mm overall, 16.01 mm internal diameter (approximate size British L, USA 5 3/4, Europe 11.24, Japan 10)

Acquired in the 1980s.
From the collection of a London antiquarian.

Acorn-shaped with rounded underside, ring of studs to the equator, applied pellets and pie-crust bands, pointillé zigzags to shoulder; thick mouth with incised pointillé lines. 4.2 kg, 33 cm

From a family collection mostly formed in the 1940s-1950s, thence by descent.

Barrel-shaped hoop with scrolled panels to the outer face; inner face with legend in two tiered lines of seriffed capitals 'BE x TRV x TIL x DEATHE x AND x SO // SHAL x I' with final curlicue. 5.23 grams, 20.70 mm overall, 18.11 mm internal diameter (approximate size British O 1/2, USA 7 1/4, Europe 15.61, Japan 15)

Found whilst searching with a metal detector in a garden in Burton Agnes, East Riding of Yorkshire, UK, on 8th January 2023, by Christopher Watson.
Declared as treasure and disclaimed by the crown with Treasure reference no.2023 T41.

Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.YORYM-7CD0D7.
Accompanied by a copy of the report for H M Coroner no.2023 T41.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12442-225797.

See Evans, J., English Posies and Posy Rings, Oxford, 1931 for discussion.

The legend 'Be true til death and so shall I' is not recorded in that form in Evans's corpus (now nearly a century old), but variants such as 'Be true to me as I to thee' or Be true in heart till death depart' carry a similar sentiment.

Substantial D-section segmented hoop and stepped bezel; ellipsoid plaque with two busts flanking a cross; equal-arm cross below each shoulder, mane in fede clasped hands to the centre and flanking ellipsoid panels with 'OMO' and 'NIA' legend for omonia (Greek, meaning 'agreement, harmony'). 5.93 grams, 25.94 mm overall, 19.41 mm internal diameter (approximate size British S, USA 9, Europe 20, Japan 19)

Private collection, Arundel, West Sussex, UK, 1980s.

Substantial D-section hoop with five radiating disc studs, each with gilt face and starburst motif; raised shoulders with gilt piriform panels, elaborate S-scroll motifs; trumpet-shaped octagonal bezel with gilt face, pelletted border and lion passant motif. 21.37 grams, 40.00 mm overall, 19.57 mm internal diameter (approximate size British T 1/2, USA 9 3/4, Europe 21.89, Japan 21)

Acquired on the London art market in the late 1980s-1990s.
From the family collection of an East London, UK, gentleman.

With stepped lozengiform bezel, central gilt plaque with skeleton and star, guilloche to the shoulder; inscribed in florid italic hand to the inner face of the hoop 'Vive Memor Leti' (be mindful of death in life). 4.14 grams, 22.92 mm overall, 18.42 mm internal diameter (approximate size British Q, USA 8, Europe 17.49, Japan 16)

Private collection, Arundel, West Sussex, UK, 1980s.

The Latin phrase is taken from the work of the 1st century AD poet Aulus Persius Flaccus, Satires V 151-3: vive memor leti ! fugit hora; hoc quod loquor inde est (Live mindful of death. Time is fleeting [and] every word I speak is [borrowed] from it.).

Flat-section hoop with low-relief pellets and banding to the outer face imitating a wreath; inner face with incised legend in seriffed capitals 'FOR EVER ORE NEVER'. 1.39 grams, 15.72 mm overall, 13.98 mm internal diameter (approximate size British F, USA 2 3/4, Europe 3.67, Japan 3)

Found whilst searching with a metal detector near Framlingham, Suffolk, UK, on Saturday 26th August 2023, by Mr Pepper; declared as Treasure and subsequently disclaimed.

Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.SF-3FCA89.
Accompanied by a copy of the Treasure report for H M Coroner from Framlingham, Suffolk, no.2023T946.

The find spot, Framlingham in Suffolk, is the site of Framlingham Castle which was once the stronghold of the powerful Dukes of Norfolk. The present structure dates to 1148 AD but may have replaced an earlier burh from pre-Conquest times. It has had royal associations for centuries, and Mary Tudor (the daughter of Henry VIII by his first wife, Catherine of Aragon) was proclaimed Queen of England at the castle in 1553, the first woman to accede to the throne of England in her own right.

Slender shank with the vestiges of a posy inscription internally, square bezel forming a cell with granule cluster to each lateral face; with a later cabochon garnet gemstone. 1.56 grams, 23.33 mm overall, 18.44 mm internal diameter (approximate size British Q, USA 8, Europe, 17.49, Japan 16)

Acquired by the previous owner's father in the early 1990s.
Property of a Warwickshire, UK, collector.

With 21 lines of bastarda script text in black with blue versals and gold leaf detailing, red and blue decorative blocking, vertical bar with beast-head finial to margin; drypoint ruling visible. 5.41 grams, 23.3 x 16.7 cm

From an important collection of Christian artefacts formed by a London gentleman, 1970s-1980s.
From the private collection of Mr David Barker, London, UK; thence by descent.

Lateral edge fragment from an architectural panel with vertical jamb, corbel and end of an arch with cooped leading edge; jamb with recessed lancet detailing, vertical orientation. 2.1 kg, 21.5 cm

Assembled by family members in the mid 20th century.
From a private West Sussex, UK, family collection.

With hinged lid formed as a tortoiseshell plaque in a silver frame; applied high-relief mount bust of Charles II in three-quarter view. 203 grams, 10.2 cm

Property of a County Durham collector; acquired on the UK art market.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12443-225455.

See Hughes, G.B. English Snuff Boxes, London, 1971 for discussion.