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LOT 1753
Medieval Bronze Knight's Holy Sepulchre Badge
CIRCA 13TH-14TH CENTURY A.D.
5/8 in. (0.63 grams, 16 mm).
Formed as an expanding cross within a circular border with punched-point border. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFound East Anglia, UK.
LiteratureCf. Mitchiner, M., Medieval Pilgrim & Secular Badges, London, 1986, items 939-41.
FootnotesThe 'Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem' was an order of knighthood under the protection of the Pope, formed around 1099 AD by Duke Godfrey of Bouillon, the leader of the First Crusade. It was established for the protection of pilgrims travelling to the Holy Land and was recognised by a Papal Bull in about 1113 AD.
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AUCTIONS:
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Medieval Bronze Saint Christopher Pilgrim's Badge
Circa 14th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
Modelled in the half-round nimbate figure on a baseline; attachment loop to reverse. 3.63 grams, 31 mm
From a private Merseyside, UK, collection; formed since circa 2000. -
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Medieval Gold Ring Brooch with Sapphires
France, 14th century A.D. or laterSold for (Inc. bp): £1,950
An annular brooch set with six cabochon sapphires, the spaces in between engraved with annulets, diamonds and a fleur-de-lis at the centre, a flower motif on each side of the pin. 6.11 grams, 20 mm
Private English collection, formed between the late 1970s and early 1990s. Private collection, UK.
In medieval jewellery, sapphires were revered not only for their beauty but for their rich symbolic and spiritual meaning. Associated with the heavens, they embodied divine wisdom, purity, and truth, often worn by clergy and royalty as signs of piety and authority. Believed to protect against envy, poison, and deceit, sapphires were also thought to reveal dishonesty by losing their brilliance, making them symbols of fidelity and integrity. Frequently gifted as tokens of loyal love, they were valued for their supposed healing properties, particularly for ailments of the eyes and mind. In 14th-century jewellery, the fleur-de-lis symbolised a blend of royal allegiance, religious devotion, and noble identity. As the emblem of the French monarchy, it signified loyalty to the crown and noble lineage, while its association with the Virgin Mary evoked purity and spiritual grace. Common in courtly and devotional contexts, it also reflected chivalric ideals such as honour, fidelity, and moral virtue. -
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.
