Medieval Bronze Chess Piece Seal Matrix with Star

Comprising a D-section hoop with the shoulders formed as stylised beast-heads, a discoid bezel with fleur-de-lys. 5.01 grams, 22.48 mm overall, 18.86 mm internal diameter (approximate size British Q 1/2, USA 8 1/4, Europe 18.12, Japan 17)



Found UK. Acquired on the UK and EU art market before 2000. From the private collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.

A circular bezel with a stylised flower decoration is soldered onto a thin ribbon-shaped link, which is flat on the inside and has two grooves on the outside. The style of the bezel decoration is Western Medieval, although the ring’s style finds parallels in specimens of Eastern Europe.

Featuring a sub-circular integral bezel decorated with an eight-armed Maltese cross with some incised decoration in its foils and a sub-circular border with traces of enamel in the field; the moulded shoulders bordered by a long triangle terminating with a long sub-oval indentation, slightly raised and decorated with two parallel lines and two circles with lines through the middle, possibly a stylised letter 'G', the shoulders tapering slightly to the narrowest section of the now straightened narrow and undecorated band. 1.21 grams, 18.40 mm overall, 16.62 mm internal diameter (approximate size British L 1/2, USA 6, Europe 11.87, Japan 11)



Found Dummer, Basingstoke and Deane, Hampshire, UK; declared as Treasure under the Treasure Act and disclaimed. Accompanied by a copy of a letter explaining that the Crown’s interest in this find has been disclaimed. Accompanied by a copy of the Report on find of Potential Treasure for H M Coroner no.2023 T292. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.HAMP-463CD7.

This motif is symbolic of membership in an Order of Knights Hospitaller, such as the Order of St John. In England, these Knights ceased to hold property after 1540 and the English Reformation. This suggests that the ring is from the earlier part of the sixteenth century. However, the letter 'G' is a prominent symbol of Freemasonry, where it typically stands for Geometry and/or God, the 'Grand Architect of the Universe'.

Annular in form with tapering cells to each end, with inset garnet cabochons, and leaf detailing, quatrefoil opposite the sword-shaped pin. 5.42 grams, 26 mm



Private collection, London, UK.