Large Medieval Bronze Seal Matrix with Lion

Comprising a pair of quatrefoil-shaped tiles, each with raised border and high-relief motif of an animal; one with a seated winged lion with a halo and a scroll representing Saint Mark; other with an eagle with a halo and a scroll representing Saint John. 2.53 kg total, 22.5 cm each



Private collection near Avignon, France.

Comprising six domed thimbles with pellet decoration. 24.9 grams total, 14-20 mm



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

The frame circular in plan with a sub-triangular cross-section and convex outer edge, flat reverse; a pair of decorative transverse grooves flanking the pin constriction, recess for the pin-rest; pin coiled around the shank, D-shaped in section and with a rounded point, decorated with three transverse grooves to the obverse. 2.72 grams, 21 mm



Found near Lewes, East Sussex, UK; declared as potential Treasure under the Treasure Act with Treasure reference no.2025T785, subsiquently disclaimed and returned to the finder. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.SUSS-2465B3.

Annular brooches were used to fasten garments, growing in popularity during the 13th and 14th centuries and continuing into the Post Medieval period. See Egan and Pritchard (2002, pg. 248-255) for examples recovered from Medieval contexts in London. A broadly similar medieval example that has been submitted through the treasure process includes: 2007T343 (SUSS-BC4C47). However, the form is decoratively similar to some early Post Medieval examples such as DOR-3A57FD (2022T442) and GLO-3C6A1A (2022T439), of 16th century date, but on these examples the reverse of the frame is bevelled not flat. Based on the above examples a broad 13th to 17th century date is suggested.