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LOT 1842
Large Medieval Bronze Door Key
14TH-15TH CENTURY A.D.
3 1/4 in. (38 grams, 83 mm).
Tubular-section shank, lozengiform bow with lobes to three corners, large rectangular bit with clefts and grooved wards. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom the collection of a Buckinghamshire, UK, collector established from the earlier 1960s.
LiteratureCf. Medieval Catalogue, London Museum Catalogues: No.7, 1940, p.XXIX, nos.18.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
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'The Somersham' Medieval Inscribed Silver-Gilt Scroll Mount or Badge
13th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £338
Scroll-shaped mount with canted ends, mounting lugs to reverse; obverse with two incuse panels, each with a line of reserved text: '+MTN V/EIRT R' – not obviously meaningful, though 'VEIRT' is an acceptable Anglo-Norman spelling for mod.Fr. verité, ‘truth’. 3.69 grams, 32 mm
Found Somersham, Suffolk, UK, declared as treasure under the Treasure Act with reference no.2022T849 and subsequently disclaimed by the Crown. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.SF-B47EF7. Accompanied by a copy of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport Treasure Act receipt dated 9 September 2022. Accompanied by a copy of a letter from the British Museum explaining that the Crown's interest in the object has been disclaimed. -
Medieval Lead Seal Matrix for Peter of Scuppeholm
13th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £20
Vesica-shaped with raised fleur-de-lys on the reverse, inscription '+ S'PETRI DE SCUPHOL' surrounding a double fleur-de-lys. 25.6 grams 36 mm
Ex Paul Moore, 1990s. Accompanied by a laminated Paul Moore identification card.
Scupholme is in South Somercotes, Lincolnshire, England. -
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Medieval Gold Ring Brooch with Sapphires
France, 14th century A.D. or laterSold for (Inc. bp): £1,950
An annular brooch set with six cabochon sapphires, the spaces in between engraved with annulets, diamonds and a fleur-de-lis at the centre, a flower motif on each side of the pin. 6.11 grams, 20 mm
Private English collection, formed between the late 1970s and early 1990s. Private collection, UK.
In medieval jewellery, sapphires were revered not only for their beauty but for their rich symbolic and spiritual meaning. Associated with the heavens, they embodied divine wisdom, purity, and truth, often worn by clergy and royalty as signs of piety and authority. Believed to protect against envy, poison, and deceit, sapphires were also thought to reveal dishonesty by losing their brilliance, making them symbols of fidelity and integrity. Frequently gifted as tokens of loyal love, they were valued for their supposed healing properties, particularly for ailments of the eyes and mind. In 14th-century jewellery, the fleur-de-lis symbolised a blend of royal allegiance, religious devotion, and noble identity. As the emblem of the French monarchy, it signified loyalty to the crown and noble lineage, while its association with the Virgin Mary evoked purity and spiritual grace. Common in courtly and devotional contexts, it also reflected chivalric ideals such as honour, fidelity, and moral virtue.
