Slender hoop with expanding shoulders, a discoid bezel with incuse horse-head and the head of a rider behind, crescent above. 5.62 grams, 20.53 mm overall, 15.29 mm internal diameter (approximate size British G 1/2, USA 3 1/2, Europe 5.55, Japan 5)



Acquired on the UK and EU art market before 2000. From the private collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.

These banded rings, made of bronze sheet with a flattened ellipsoidal bezel, could be decorated with geometric or animal ornaments executed by shallow carving. The animal repertoire was borrowed from the contemporary Romanesque art.

D-section hoop and disc bezel with 'R' between fronds; attached to a collector's card with sample seal impression and legend 'N[ea]r Cheltenham 1865'. 11.50 grams total, 27.57 mm overall, 22.36 mm internal diameter (approximate size British X, USA 11 1/2, Europe 26.29, Japan 25)



Found near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK, in 1865. From the collection of Dame Joan Evans (1893-1977), thence gifted during her lifetime to a gentleman collector friend from South East England.

Dame Joan Evans, DBE, FSA, FRHistS, enjoyed a long and distinguished career as an author and historian. She was appointed the president of the Society of Antiquaries in 1959, the first woman to hold this position, serving until 1964. From 1948 to 1951, Joan Evans served as President of the Royal Archaeological Institute. She received the Society’s gold medal in 1973. Joan Evans was honoured with a host of honorary degrees and fellowships, as well as fellowships of the Royal Historical Society and the Royal Society of Literature. She was a Chevalier of the Légion d’Honneur, and was appointed a Dame of the British Empire in 1976. She served as a trustee of both the London and the British museums, and as a member of the advisory council of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Formed as a cross-crosslet, the symbol of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, with punched-point border. 1.01 grams, 18 mm



Found Suffolk, UK. Property of a Suffolk, UK, gentleman.

The 'Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem' was an order of knighthood under the protection of the Pope, formed around 1099 AD by Duke Godfrey of Bouillon, the leader of the First Crusade. It was established for the protection of pilgrims travelling to the Holy Land and was recognised by a Papal Bull in about 1113 AD.

With arcade detailing to the shoulders, notched borders, rectangular bezel with incised cross motif. 5.61 grams, 25.22 mm overall, 22.30 mm internal diameter (approximate size British Y 1/2, USA 12 1/4, Europe 28.2, Japan 27)



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.

Pilgrim's badge for Windsor, depicting a standing arch-crowned, robed and cloaked facing figure of Henry VI, holding sceptre and orb with purse at waist and standing on recumbent lion at feet; with integral pin to reverse. 5.05 grams, 50 mm



From the private collection of the late Graham Slater (1927-2024), Cambridge, UK, acquired 1980s-1990s. Accompanied by a previous information slip.

The remains of Henry VI were moved from Chertsey to St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, by Richard III in 1484 and pilgrimages to Windsor were further encouraged by Henry VII, and the arched crown first appears on coins of this reign; Henry VII made his own pilgrimage to Henry's tomb at Windsor in 1529.

Each and S-curved hook with median collar. 20.1 grams total, 25-41 mm



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.

Irregular fragment with one worked face, reserved expanding-arm cross in high-relief. 17.7 kg, 51.5 cm



Acquired on the UK art market in the early 2000s.

D-section hoop and octagonal bezel with 'R' in a frame; attached to a collector's card with sample seal impression and legend 'Bvry St Edmvnds J.W.'. 10.53 grams total, 28.13 mm overall, 23.57 mm internal diameter (approximate size British Z+2, USA 13 1/4, Europe 31.31, Japan 30)



Found Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, UK. From the collection of Dame Joan Evans (1893-1977), thence gifted during her lifetime to a gentleman collector friend from South East England.

Dame Joan Evans, DBE, FSA, FRHistS, enjoyed a long and distinguished career as an author and historian. She was appointed the president of the Society of Antiquaries in 1959, the first woman to hold this position, serving until 1964. From 1948 to 1951, Joan Evans served as President of the Royal Archaeological Institute. She received the Society’s gold medal in 1973. Joan Evans was honoured with a host of honorary degrees and fellowships, as well as fellowships of the Royal Historical Society and the Royal Society of Literature. She was a Chevalier of the Légion d’Honneur and was appointed a Dame of the British Empire in 1976. She served as a trustee of both the London and the British Museums, and as a member of the advisory council of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Ellipsoid seal with facetted shank and pierced lug above; tondo with two standing figures and Lombardic script legend 'S* HENRIC ' VICAR DE NOY[...]'; 'AVE' (greeting) above heads. 10.66 grams, 24 mm



From the collection of a late Gloucestershire, UK, collector.

Heater-shaped with heraldic design of flowers, pierced at the bottom. 7.14 grams, 46 mm



From the private collection of the late Graham Slater (1927-2024), Cambridge, UK, acquired 1980s-1990s.

Comprising a D-section hoop and a discoid bezel with two stylised figures, one with a raised arm. 7.25 grams, 24.66 mm overall, 19.51 mm internal diameter (approximate size British R 1/2, USA 8 3/4, Europe 19.38, Japan 18)



Acquired on the UK and EU art market before 2000. From the private collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.

In these rings, a circular bezel with a stylised decoration of warriors is soldered onto a thin ribbon-shaped link, which is flat on the inside. The bezel of these rings was decorated with stylised images, very often military saints, who were asked for protection and blessing.

Hoop with incised foliage to the shoulders, disc bezel with incised pentagram on a pounced field. 4.44 grams, 22.19 mm overall, 19.07 mm internal diameter (approximate size British P, USA 7 1/2, Europe 16.23, Japan 15)



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.