Large Celtic Style Twisted Silver Bar Neck Torc

A rare complete and undamaged rectangular plaque bearing raised, moulded text on the obverse; with hatched three horizontal bars and two pelletted between five registers, framing the letters of the alphabet '+ABCDE / FGHIKL / MN[reversed]OPq / RSTVW / +Y[Z]'; tree with berries on a hatched field to the reverse. 26.8 grams, 53 mm



Found whilst searching with a metal detector near Kniveton, Derbyshire Dales, UK. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.WMID-341C6A.

The letter 'U' has been omitted from the alphabet, as is common with such objects, as has the letter 'J', suggesting that the book was produced prior to the publication of Charles Butler's English Grammar (1633), which first distinguished between I and J. The letter Z is reversed. Hornbooks were employed as learning aids and commonly made from paper mounted onto wood, together with a transparent sheet of horn. Smaller, more portable lead-alloy examples such as this one are generally believed to have been mass-produced, whilst still falling within the genre of 'hornbooks'.

Of academic interest, copper coated lead seal impressions taken from cylinder seals showing various scenes, including one with cuneiform text. 180 grams total, 28-39 mm



Possibly made by the British Museum. From a West Country, UK, private collection.

Discoid cell with scooped rim and faux-granulated segments; two granule-and-loop suspension points; incuse frieze of two facing figures, one crowned and holding an orb and sceptre, the other nimbate; exergue below; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 27.92 grams, 45 mm



Private collection, England. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13174-249553.