Medieval and Other Ring Collection

A pewter tripod candlestick with a discoid body decorated with concentric roundels of ring-and-dot and hatched motifs, central 'cup' and three legs with trefoil feet; one leg restored. 15.3 grams, 56 mm wide



Found on the Thames foreshore, London, UK. Acquired on the UK antiques market between 1974-1985. Albert Ward collection, Essex, UK.

An icon from a possible triptych of Veneto-Cretan School depicting nimbate Saint Francis of Assisi, wearing the brown habit of the Franciscan order, fitted with a hood, facing towards the right, a red book in his left hand with the inscription Vera S. Francisci effigies(true portrait of Saint Francis); mounted in a perspex display frame. 152 grams, 20 cm high



Property of a London lady, part of her family's collection.

With the conquest of Crete by the Venetians, Latin saints were introduced to Byzantine iconography. Saint Francis was one of the most beloved Latin saints among the Cretan faithful, depicted in the iconography of Cretan Orthodox churches, including the Panaghia Kera of Kritsa (13th-14th century A.D.). This figure was probably part of a triptych, having at the centre the image of the Mother of God with the Child, or a Desis. The placement of Francis in this icon would suggests the owner’s strong affiliation with the Franciscan order, which had a strong presence on Crete from the 13th century onwards. It was believed that Saint Francis himself stopped on the island on his way to the Holy Land in 1219.

A copper-alloy pilgrim's badge in the form of the letter E, in reference to Saint Edward; the upper face decorated with shallow recessed channels tracing the plan of the letter and openwork fleurs between the bars; recessed reverse; two perforations for attachment. 2.9 grams, 26 mm



Acquired in the late 1990s-2000. Property of an East London gentleman.