Medieval and Later Artefact Collection

The bezel expanding into a low flat topped triangle with facetted corners surmounted by a cabochon sapphire set within an asymmetrical hexagonal cell; expanded quatrefoils flanking the base of the bezel leading on to the angled hoop with a central ridge running around its circumference; three further quatrefoil panels evenly spaced around the band- one on both sides and the third at the base of the hoop; the bevelled sides of the hoop engraved with the inscription '+NI ONAN NRIO ONIC / NIAI AINO ANIOI NAN', which may not be meaningful, but these groups of letters may have been felt to be 'magical'. 3.95 grams, 25.72 mm overall, 19.75 x 18.44 mm internal diameter (approximate size British R, USA 8 1/2, Europe 18 3/4, Japan 18)



Found whilst searching with a metal detector near Drayton, Vale of the White Horse, Oxfordshire, UK, on Sunday 16th September 2018 by Chris Weir. Declared as treasure under the Treasure Act with reference no.2018T853, subsequently disclaimed and returned to the finder. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.GLO-0BFB91. Accompanied by a letter from the finder describing the circumstances of finding. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.12118-214086.

Many late medieval rings and brooches bear similarly meaningless inscriptions, perhaps due to the illiteracy of the engraver who nevertheless was aware that customers required an inscription, so provided one. For discussion of such inscriptions see Evans, J., Magical Jewels of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, Oxford, 1922, pp.121-132, for inscribed jewels.

Hollow-formed vessel formed as a male bust; discoid body with chamfered shoulder bearing bands of running zigzag detailing and three splayed feet; the head with low-relief hair and rim of bosses with linear spirals, gracile facial features with lentoid eyes and slender nose, small pouting mouth; short spout to the forehead, filler-hole to top of the head with hinged cover; handle to the rear formed as a reptile with head and forepaws placed on the hair below the hinge and joining the base above one of the feet. 1.27 kg, 18 cm



Acquired on the UK art market in 2001. with Christie's, London, 6 December 2017. Private collection, Suffolk. Accompanied by copies of a previous illustrated cataloguing document with references. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.12038-212152.

Aquamaniles in the form of a bust are a rarity compared to the quantity of zoomorphic forms known from the Middle Ages. The present piece was formed by lost-wax casting method, and is a very early example of such process for a vessel. Metallurgical analysis has shown that the piece is consistent with the suggested date.

Vellum 'two-page spread' with stitching holes flanking the central column; left page with dense bastarda script in black ink with green and red versals and ornament; right page with large initial majuscule 'D' and floral panels extending across the upper edge of the text and down the left margin, the bow of the 'D' filled with dense leaf, tendril and floral detailing, text of Psalm 110. 2.65 kg, 60 x 45 cm



with Sotheby's, London, 7 December 1999, no.9.