Medieval Bronze Ring Brooch Group

A pair of copper or brass gilt plaques with openwork representation of two nimbate Evangelists, holding a gospel with the left hand, the right hand raised for blessing and manifestation of the divine and human nature of God, appliques for a belt or a personal ornament, four fastening holes at the corners. 13.80 grams total, 61 mm each

Fine condition.

Ex central London gallery; acquired on the UK art market. From the private collection of John Meredith, acquired since the 1990s; thence by descent. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

The medieval Kingdom of Serbia was in its material culture strongly under the influence of Byzantium, but had also undergone cultural and artistic developments from western countries. The decoration - especially the technique of filigree and granulation, and the ornamental motifs and their composition - shows some similarities both to the Byzantine and to the Western gold work of the 11th–13th century. The openwork decoration of these objects is similar to the foliage represented on one sarcophagus positioned against the south wall of the church of St Demetrius, in the Patriarchate of Peć, dated to the 14th century AD.

With cup-bezel and claws setting for an inset glass cabochon pierced at the apex to accept a stud; possibly a re-used bead. 4.12 grams, 23.88 mm overall, 16.26 mm internal diameter (approximate size British I, USA 4 1/4 , Europe 7.44, Japan 7)



Acquired on the London art market in the late 1980s-1990s. From the family collection of an East London, UK, gentleman. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Rectangular plaque with reserved border, gothic architectural detailing to upper corners, low-relief figural scene comprising: to left, seated figure on dais wearing a crown and floor-length robes holding a book on his knees, his left hand raised palm-outwards; to right, an advancing nimbate figure in ankle-length robe bowing and presenting a reliquary; wall-hanging to rear, the wall with pattern of lozenges with crosses at the nodes; mounted on a display stand. 245 grams total, plaque: 94 mm, 15 cm including stand



From the collection of Mrs Chester D. Tripp. Gifted to the Cleveland Museum of Art in honour of William Wixom, 1979. Deaccessioned by the museum prior to 2000. Ex central London gallery. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12836-240248. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.