Large Medieval Bronze Seal Matrix with Crowned I

With broad carinated hoop and discoid bezel; each facet of the hoop with niello-inlaid legend 'Arter D'Aielo'; trefoil to each spandrel; bezel with central motif of three trees within a circular border with Lombardic script legend 'X S' Den . Pere . Iohan' (seal of Denis, father of John); supplied with an old collector's record card. 12.84 grams, 25.24 mm overall, 20.10 mm internal diameter (approximate size British S 1/2, USA 9 1/4, Europe 20.63, Japan 19)



Private collection of Kal Noselson, New York, acquired between 1976 and the late 1990s; thence by descent. Accompanied by an original 1970s-1980s typed collector's card.

Discoid in plan with applied decorative plates to the sidewall; cuir bouilli panels to the outer face with reserved fronds and tendrils on a pounced field, central roundel with agnus dei and four radiating heater-shaped lobes with heraldic designs - crossed keys, field of fleurs-de-lys, lion rampant and plain chief (upper panel); below the rim, six of original seven rectangular brackets; inner face with later sheet-bronze lining bearing printed gilt designs; old collector's label to inner base with indistinct legend end ing '...Lille'. 545 grams, 23 cm wide



By repute, collection of Andre (1875-1949) and Maria (1887-1947) Larminet-Davioud, Lille. By descent to Georges Davioud (1927-2014), Lille. By descent to his heirs, and sold at their sale, Pierre Berge, Paris, 27th January 2021.

Rectangular plaque with low-relief image of a stylised seated beast with ornamental tail on a gilded field; pierced to the top, remains of a catchplate to the reverse. 13.6 grams, 36.6 mm



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