Ancient Art, Antiquities, Books, Natural History, Stamps & Coins

Comprising six S-shaped hangers, three with loops. 38.9 grams total, 20-32 mm



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

Formed as a cross-crosslet, the symbol of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, with a punched-point border. 0.67 grams, 24 mm



Found North Yorkshire, UK.

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.

Quatrefoil pendant with a hanger, formed as four circular discs, each with a six-petalled flower. 12.9 grams, 47 mm



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

Pommel from a rondel dagger, discoidal in plan and moulded with multiple radiating lobed ribs on both faces, central sub-rectangular hole for the tang. 50 grams, 33 mm



Found Achurch, Northamptonshire, UK. Recorded with UKDFD no.40604.

Domed-section hoop with D-section tongue. 2.31 grams, 26.2 mm



Acquired from Essex Coin Auctions, Essex, UK. Ex Buckinghamshire, UK, collection.

Discoid brooch with a faux-ropework border, band of ring-and-dot motifs around the circumference enclosing a central inscription 'INC' with Greek letter omega above. 3.15 grams, 26 mm



Ex London, UK, collection. Ex Simmons Gallery, 1990s.

Heater-shaped body with pierced suspension lug; low-relief reserved design of three lions passant gardant on a red-enamelled field, label placed overall in fess designating 'first son' status. 15.3 grams, 47 mm



Acquired on the UK art market. Property of a Lancashire, UK, collector.

The first a circular badge of St John the Baptist, his severed head depicted on the circular plate with small loop for attachment at the top, inscription reading 'SIGNVM S’ IOhIS BABTIS' with a horizontal stroke to the 'h' so that it doesbles as a cross; a small badge of the Archangel Michael, shown fully armored and holding a sword above his head having bested Satan in personal combat; the final badge in the form of a dolphin, a secular piece likely worn by a follower of the French Dauphiné Charles V. 10.5 grams total, 24-38 mm



Former Forgeais (1822-1878) collection, France, thence by family descent. Arthur Forgeais was a noted 19th-century French archaeologist. Born in 1822 in the city of Paris, Forgeais held a special interest and specialism in the medieval history of his home city. When, in the mid-19th century, the Seine was dredged during Haussmann's renovation of the city, the scholar worked to recover a great number of archaeological remains from the silts of the river. He subsequently published his findings in the five-volume title Collection of Historiated Leaves Found in the Seine and Collected by Arthur Forgeais (published 1862-1866). The present collection of pewter pilgrim badges, all French in origin, is likely to have been recovered at this time.

Group of three, each with bands of impressed pointillé texture to the domed upper face and sidewall. 23.6 grams total, 19-23 mm



Found UK. From the collection of a Bedfordshire, UK, lady.

Comprising a cross-shaped pendant with a turreted extension on three arms; a rectangular pendant with a quatrefoil within a lozenge with a hinged plaque bearing the same motif above. 24.49 grams total, 44-54 mm



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

Modelled as an arching horseshoe with nine nail holes. 4.95 grams, 25 mm



From a European collection, 1990s. Accompanied by a previous dealer's sales ticket.

This attribute results from a story in which Saint Eligius exorcised a demon from a badly-behaved horse by twisting off its leg and miraculously reattaching it. Through doing this, he also managed to trumpet his skills as a metalworker by re-shoeing it while the leg was detached. For this reason, he is also the patron saint of farriers.

Formed as a cross-crosslet, the symbol of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, with a punched-point border. 0.65 grams, 20 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.