Gothic Silver Filigree Bow Brooch

A carved bone panel, roughly triangular in plan with a curved profile, carved in relief with a stylised figural scene: left, above: two figures standing right, four large heads below; partial figures with a hound facing left above right, text below: 'JVLIANVS'; panel of five orderly rows of heads facing left, with geometric border below; notching to the edges to reverse; repaired. 31.4 grams, 91 mm



Previously in the Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister. From a Cambridge collection. Property of a North London gentleman.

The piece is probably a panel from a carved casket. The imagery relates to the Emperor Julian, later known as 'the Apostate', who was the cousin of Emperor Constantius II and ruled from 3 November 361-26 June 363. Julian was well-educated in the Greek tradition and rejected the Christian faith imposed on the eastern Empire under his uncle, Constantine. On his succession, Julian embarked on a military campaign against the Sassanian Empire in 363 which initially went well, but at the battle of Samarra in the same year he was badly wounded.

A heavy silver belt buckle, the bow and tongue decorated with raised nodules, rectangular plate with beaded edges, pierced through the corners, modern plate for attachment. 101 grams, 87 mm

Fine condition.

Acquired mid 1980s to early 1990s. Private family collection formed in London.

The construction of the buckle loop and tongue could suggest that this object originates from the Heruli culture, when compared to finds like those from the Ulów graves. Another possibility is that the buckle belongs to Alemannic or Frankish culture. The rectangular buckle plate seems to be an addition from a different buckle of Gothic type, but the assemblage could have been done already in antiquity.

A gold finger ring comprising a lozengiform bezel and twisted hoop; applied filigree bilinear frame to the bezel enclosing four applied filigree hoops and central cell with inset garnet cloison over a waffle-pattern gold-foil reflector. 3.16 grams, 22.79 mm overall, 20.52 mm internal diameter (approximate size British K, USA 5 1/4, Europe 9.95, Japan 9)



Acquired 1960s-1990s. Late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11651-199135.