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LOT 1864
Medieval Bronze Chess Piece Personal Seal Matrix with Fox-Bishop
14TH CENTURY A.D.
3/4 in. (7.09 grams, 18.65 mm high).
With a beaded border, a long-eared fox with a bishop’s crozier preaches to a congregation of birds; this hugely popular satirical motif in which the pastor becomes the predator, preying on his flock, was originally directed against the mendicant friars but soon came to criticise the regular
clergy too; the two pairs of letters, either side of the ‘preacher’, appear to read 'IE ME', perhaps Anglo-Norman for ‘I love’. [No Reserve]
Found Gloucestershire, UK.
Acquired from the early 1980s.
From the private collection of a late Gloucestershire, UK, gentleman; thence by descent.
See Jones, M., The Secret Middle Ages, Cheltenham, 2025, pp.276-7, 282-3.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 1864
Medieval Bronze Chess Piece Personal Seal Matrix with Fox-Bishop
Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
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Medieval Silver-Gilt Brooch with Garnets
13th-14th century A.D.Estimate: £500 - 700 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £225
An annular brooch decorated with oak leaves surrounding tall collets set with garnet cabochons, dagger-shaped pin. 5.42 grams, 27 mm
Private collection, UK.
The brooch would have been a deeply romantic gift combining the garnets, which are emblematic of love and the oak leaves, which symbolised strength and stability, as well as bearing strong religious significance. -
Medieval Bronze Ring with Magical Symbols
Circa 14th-16th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £98
D-section hoop with a pellet at the base, ribbed shoulders and raised discoid bezel with symbols. 7.84 grams, 24.88 mm overall, 17.09 mm internal diameter (approximate size British M 1/2, USA 6 1/4, Europe 13.09, Japan 12)
Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman. -
Medieval and Later Artefact Group
14th-21st century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
Including crotal bells, lead shot, badges, furniture fittings and other items. 2.35 kg total, 12-94 mm
Found Suffolk, UK. (UK buyers only, not for export)
