Comprising a stylised bird in plan with high-relief detailing, pellet eyes, knotwork to the shoulders and gilt bands below, bearded mask to the lower back and knotwork disc above, niello detailing, hollow to the underside, two wire loops to the lateral flanges. 32.3 grams, 70 mm

Acquired from Marcus Hollersberger, Solophurn, Switzerland, in 1980.
From the collection of a London antiquarian, formed since the 1980s.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12736-234209.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Discoid with repoussé mask within a segmented border, integral loop. 6.03 grams, 40 mm

Private collection formed in Europe in the 1980s.
Westminster collection, central London, UK.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

With slender hoop and splayed shoulders, ellipsoid bezel with twisted collar and beaded wire filet, cell with inset almandine garnet over a waffle-pattern sheet-gold backing. 2.25 grams, 21.52 mm overall, 18.75 mm internal diameter (approximate size British P 1/2, USA 7 3/4, Europe 16.86, Japan 16)

Ex private collection, 1970s.
Property of a Nottinghamshire gentleman.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12470-228354.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Cf. Hadjadj, R., Bagues Merovingiennes - Gaul du Nord, Paris, 2007, items 20, 153, 231, for type.

Octagonal in section with multiple abrasions to all faces. 8.94 grams, 22.64 mm overall, 17.07 mm internal diameter (approximate size British M 1/2, USA 6 1/4, Europe 13.09, Japan 12)

Property of a Cambridgeshire, UK, collector.
From his private collection since the 1970s; thence by descent circa 2000.
Ex private collection of a Bedfordshire gentleman.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

The polygonal section of the ring suggests a date of manufacture in Late Anglo-Saxon or Anglo-Scandinavian culture. This feature was noted in respect of some items in the Cuerdale Hoard of 9th-10th century date, for example a ring-fragment (British Museum accession no.1841,0711.508).

Each formed as a conjoined pair of facing masks sharing a mouth; pin to reverse. 2.48 grams total, 24.6-24.8 mm

From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Modelled with a threatening expression, his half-open mouth visibly contracted into an evil grin with exposed teeth, short beard to the chin and wavy locks of hair resting on the forehead with two small horns, large goat horns framing the face on both sides; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 8.4 kg total, 30.5 cm high including stand

From a collection acquired on the UK art market.
Property of a West Midlands, UK, private collector.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Cf. Tindall Wildridge, The Grotesque…in Church Art…, London, 1899, pp.16ff., for similar grotesque masks.

From the Romanesque era onwards, images of demons, often carved on the external sides of cathedrals and churches, were strongly linked to the fantastical and monstrous creatures of ancient myth and legend. For theologians, supernatural creatures which could not otherwise be explained were not of God and therefore had to be demonic: their incorporation in the ecclesiastic structures showed that their malevolent powers could be kept under control only through the protection of the church. This origin of Christian demons is likely to have influenced the visual representation in medieval culture as hybrid and monstrous, especially given the increased interest in Greek works from the twelfth century onwards in the West.

Rectangular corbel with head of Christ modelled in the half-round, turned slightly with the eyelids drooping and lank hair framing the face; crown of thorns to the brow. 31.9 kg, 39 cm deep

From Lancashire, UK.
From a collection acquired on the UK art market.
Property of a West Midlands, UK, private collector.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

With rectangular cross-section, the exterior engraved with a black letter inscription reading '+ Je decir vovs cervir' translating to 'I desire to serve you' with an elaborate sprig of leaves on each side of the word 'vous'. 2.15 grams, 19.55 mm overall, 16.73 mm internal diameter (approximate size British M, USA 6, Europe 12.46, Japan 12)

Found near Great Holland, Frinton and Walton, Essex, on Thursday 2nd March 2023 by Paul Sheedy.
Declared as treasure under the Treasure Act with reference no.2023 T585, and disclaimed and disclaimed by the Crown.

Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.ESS-AFFADD.
Accompanied by a copy of an email from PAS explaining that the Crown's interest in the ring has been disclaimed with reference no.2023 T585.
Accompanied by a copy of two photographs of the ring taken at the time of finding.
Accompanied by a copy of an article about the finding of this ring in the Daily Gazette and Essex County Standard.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12738-234089.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Cf. Portable Antiquities Scheme, refs. OXON-D90644, DUR-B533B9, YORYM-D33826, YORYM-680214, for type; similar variations on the spelling of 'servir', see WMID-F4CF43 and SWYOR-34A5B0; cf. Jones, M., 'The Beautiful Game: Courtly Love Posies in Anglo-Norman Inscribed on Jewellery and Seals' in Journal of the British Archaeological Association 176 (2023), 1-30, here 17-18, DOI:10.1080/00681288.2024.2351731].

Passage from Dr Jones's essay referencing this ring (The Beautiful Game: Courtly Love Posies in Anglo-Norman Inscribed on Jewellery and Seals, 2023, pp.17-18) explains further regarding the inscriptions on courtly rings: 'The courtly lover wishes only amer et seruir (to love and serve), as attested on a ring found in East Sussex. The same legend appeared, according to an inventory of his jewels made c. 1420, on a pendant owned by Louis d’Anjou (d. 1384), but as it is described as being in the form of a cross, it is perhaps religious love and service that is at issue here. There can be no doubt, however, about a ring found recently in Essex, which reads je decir vovs ceruir (I desire to serve you). A hefty 15th-century ring in the V&A is inscribed iaym servir (I love to serve) on the exterior and voeil obeir (I wish to obey)inside the hoop, while a ring found in Yorkshire reads simply ie vueil servir (I wish to serve). The assumption is that these were rings worn by male lovers who wished to serve their ladies — vueil plein[men]t a vous servir, the slightly fuller version on a ring recorded by Evans, is not quite as fulsome as the legend on a ring found recently in the West Midlands: tant que murai vous seruire [published as seroire] (Till I die I will serve you), or as florid as Deus me octroye de vous seruir / a gree com moun couer desire (God grant me to serve you / acceptably as my heart desires).'

D-section hoop with octagonal bezel, facetted cone with inset replacement sapphire cabochon. 2.29 grams, 24.92 mm overall, 20.52 mm internal diameter (approximate size British R 1/2, USA 8 3/4, Europe 19.38, Japan 18)

Private collection, UK.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12739-235715.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Comprising a plano-convex section hoop with bezel formed as two clasped hands, each with a large lace cuff; inscribed to the inner face in an italic hand 'Can man give more' and maker's mark of a heater shield with a gothic style letter 'J'. 2.52 grams, 18.33 mm overall, 16.28 mm internal diameter (approximate size British I 1/2, USA 4 1/2, Europe 8.07, Japan 7)

Found whilst searching with a metal detector near Blackmore, Brentwood, Essex, in 2018, declared as treasure under the Treasure Act with reference no.2018 T849, and subsequently disclaimed by the crown.

Accompanied by a copy of a report for Treasure by Laura Smith.
Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.ESS-CACCCD.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Comprising a plain D-section hoop, discoid bezel with radiating spurs, central enamelled skull motif surrounded by a ring with legend '*MEMENTO*mori'. 3.84 grams, 19.30 mm overall, 16.87 mm internal diameter (approximate size British M, USA 6, Europe 12.46, Japan 12)

Private collection, UK.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12740-235714.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

D-section hoop inscribed to the inner face 'Keepe Faith Till Deaith*'. 4.76 grams, 20.71 mm overall, 17.97 mm internal diameter (approximate size British P, USA 7 1/2, Europe 16.23, Japan 15)

Found whilst searching with a metal detector by Robin Sykes at Sutton on the Forest, Hambleton, North Yorkshire, UK, on 10 October 1999, recorded as Treasure by the finder and disclaimed by the Crown with Treasure case no.MME158.
From the private collection of Robin Sykes, Yorkshire, UK, formed since the late 1990s.

Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.PAS-743C06.
Accompanied by a copy of page 81 of the Treasure Annual Report 1998-1999 where this ring is published.
Accompanied by copies of various correspondence relating to this find.
Accompanied by an illustrated record card by Jim Halliday dated 11 October 1999.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

The Portable Antiquities Scheme, Treasure Annual Report 1998-1999, p.81, no.191.