East German (DDR) Army Seal

Comprising: ceramic seated figure with voided mouth; bronze pipe with bell-shaped bowl. 2.14 kg total, 24-46 cm



From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; 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.

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.

Restrung using mainly tabular beads interspersed with small oblate glass beads, a large spherical bead to each finial. 46 grams, 38.5 cm



Ex London art market. Property of a North London, UK, gentleman.