Large Medieval Bronze Door Key

Heater-shaped with pierced lug above; reserved border and three lions passant gardant on a red enamelled field. 10.7 grams, 42 mm



Acquired on the UK art market in the 1980s. From an East Anglian private collection.

With a broad hoop, each shoulder decorated with a pointillé geometric motif, octagonal-section domed bezel with segmented upper and corrugated sidewall; inset nicolo with advancing lion motif. 9.96 grams, 31.53 mm overall, 19.51x23.08 mm internal diameter (approximate size British V 1/2, USA 10 3/4, Europe 24.40, Japan 23)



with Archaeologia, Switzerland, before 1983. Ex private North American collection. London private collection, 2016.

Trilobate in plan with openwork triangle between three roundels with hatched fields, the upper two surmounted by crosses, depicting scenes from Christ's life: the crucifixion, resurrection and Christ at the Column in relief. 3.39 grams, 31 mm



Ex European collection, 1990s. Ex Cambridgeshire, UK, collection.

In 1383 AD, after fire in the town of Bad Wilsnack, Germany) three consecrated communion hosts were found undamaged in the ruins of the church. According to the legend, they were sprinkled with the Holy Blood of Christ, which made Bad Wilsnack a famous pilgrimage site. The resultant pilgrim badges were distinctive in shape with three circles arranged in a triangle and painted in red, referring to this miracle. Although the miracle was doubted by Reformation period scholars like John Hus, the final blow came in 1552, when the miraculous communion hosts were publicly burned.