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LOT 0279
Large Merovingian Gold Fish-Tailed Mount with Garnets
6TH CENTURY A.D.
1 7/8 in. (12.62 grams, 48 mm).
A substantial gold mount or fitting for a shield, belt or bridle comprising a median domed panel with central green glass cabochon, four pelta-shaped radiating-arm cells with inset garnets, two now absent; to each end a fish-tail with inset garnet cloisons, one absent; six fixing pins to the mounting plate with beaded border. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceAcquired by Mr L. Grenacs of Belgium in 1975.
Acquired London, UK, 1999.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11650-198616.
See Arrhenius, B., Merovingian Garnet Jewellery, Stockholm, 1985, for discussion; and for a similar corpus, see Wieczorek, A. and Perin, P., Das Gold der Barbarenfursten, Damstadt, 2001.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0279
Large Merovingian Gold Fish-Tailed Mount with Garnets
Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,640
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Large Germanic Silver Buckle
6th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £127
A heavy silver belt buckle, the bow and tongue decorated with raised nodules, rectangular plate with beaded edges, pierced through the corners, modern plate for attachment. 101 grams, 87 mm
Fine condition.
Acquired mid 1980s to early 1990s. Private family collection formed in London.
The construction of the buckle loop and tongue could suggest that this object originates from the Heruli culture, when compared to finds like those from the Ulów graves. Another possibility is that the buckle belongs to Alemannic or Frankish culture. The rectangular buckle plate seems to be an addition from a different buckle of Gothic type, but the assemblage could have been done already in antiquity. -
Post Roman Gallic Figural Amuletic Bone Carving
5th-7th century A.D. or laterEstimate: £1,200 - 1,700 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £600
A fishtail-shaped bone amulet or strap end displaying vertically arranged stylised figural panels: at the top, a central facing bust flanked by two further busts; a standing central figure with arms held skywards, a robed figure standing to each side holding his torso, one in a floor-length female garment and the other with one leg advancing showing trousers; an animal facing left below; panel with central vertical divide below, each populated with two busts, one pair facing left, the other facing right; ring-and-dot motifs with radiating lines below, possibly stylised sun motifs; two perforations to top edge for suspension; natural shrinkage crack, mostly evident to the reverse. 23.4 grams, 12 cm
Fine condition, shallow crack to reverse.
Previously in the Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister. From a Cambridge collection. Property of a North London gentleman.
The standing animal may represent the lupa or she-wolf which nurtured Romulus and Remus in the mythical story of the founding of Rome. The Emperor Julian, later known as 'the Apostate', was responsible for turning his back on Christianity and promoting a return to traditional Roman values, which included veneration of 'Roma' and the founding legends. -
Frankish Period Gold Repousse Applique with Christian Cross and Pellets
5th-7th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
A sheet-gold applique displaying a repoussé Christian cross composed of pellets, larger central pellet and single pellet to each arm, all enclosed by a pelletted roundel with single pellet in each quarter. 0.25 grams, 18 mm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
