Large Silver-Coloured Metal Ring with Blue Glass Cabochon

With tubular shank and flared lateral arms, ellipsoid panel above. 3.72 grams, 24 mm



Found near Skirpenbeck, Yorkshire, UK, in 1997. From an old Yorkshire, UK, collection. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.FAKL-404206. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

The item is described by the PAS report as 'probably a watch winding key' although these are very rare until the late 17th century since mechanical timepieces were not portable until then. An alternative use for the item would be for the tuning of a musical instrument: hollow keys for this purpose have been in use since at least the 7th century.

Comprising a plain D-section hoop, discoid bezel with radiating spurs, central enamelled skull motif surrounded by a ring with legend '*MEMENTO*mori'. 3.84 grams, 19.30 mm overall, 16.87 mm internal diameter (approximate size British M, USA 6, Europe 12.46, Japan 12)



Private collection, UK. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12740-235714. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Rectangular in plan, the lime green silk field with two large roundels of red silk tied by a tassel in the rococo style, signature of Sultan Mahmud II contained within a mosque lamp, ten smaller roundels of alternating cream, orange and cream silk; large central rectangular panel and two bands above incorporating inscriptions in Thuluth, tughra of the Sultan framed by swags in lower part of field, ground richly decorated with floral swags and vegetal motifs, backed. 17.8 kg, 294 x 179 cm



Acquired before 2000. Private collection, UK. with Bonhams, London, 6 October 2008, no.216 (est. £80,000 - £120,000). This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12741-235157. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

The inscriptions comprise: in two horizontal cartouches: Qur'an, surah al-Ahzab (XXXIII, verses 45-46) inscription contained in mosque lamp; the signature of Sultan Mahmud Il in the two large roundels: the Shahadah in the six roundels above central rectangular panel; the names of the four Orthodox Caliphs, and the Imams Hasan and Husain in the central panel; Quran, surah al-Baqarah (Il), verse 255, ayat al-Kursi in the six side panels; the names of the companions of the Prophet in the lower part; the tughra of Sultan Mahmud.