Medieval and Later Bronze Thimble Collection

Including a flat-section finger ring, buckle-loop, triangular-section arrowhead, belt mount and other items; accompanied by a reproduction bronze beehive thimble. 54 grams total, 19 - 72 mm



Acquired on the UK art market. Property of a Essex, UK, collector. Accompanied by an old handwritten information slip.

Comprising a narrow hoop with waisted shoulders, incised detailing, knop to the underside; ellipsoid plaque with central raised panel surrounded by pellets and with incised inscription. 6.02 grams, 26.04 mm overall, 19.73 x 18.80 mm internal diameter (approximate size British U, USA 10, Europe 22.52, Japan 21)



From an old French collection believed to have been formed in the 1960s. Acquired privately as part of a collection in the early 1990s.

Carved naturalistically in the round as a mature male figure with short wavy hair, full beard and moustache, his brow furrowed and mouth held slightly ajar; repaired. 3.8 kg, 18 cm



Acquired in Europe before 1996. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11809-206816.

The head was carved as an image of a saint, apostle or a prophet. The accomplished and sophisticated style of carving on this head can be compared to some of the most celebrated Romanesque buildings of Southern France. The carving of the head resembles the representations of heads and faces of 12th century French Romanesque art, for example those of Saint Trophime in Arles. This imposing head once served as an important architectural part of a lavishly decorated church, possibly in western France. Its form and the size suggest that the head was not only decorative but that it would have been structurally important – perhaps part of a row of statues of apostles and prophets like those depicted on the Saint Trophime façade.