Loading, please wait...
Details
LOT 1885
Medieval Bronze Ring with Cross
15TH-16TH CENTURY A.D.
7/8 in. (5.65 grams, 22.93 mm overall, 19.12 mm internal diameter (approximate size British Q 1/2, USA 8 1/4, Europe 18.12, Japan 17)).
Octagonal bezel with border, central incised cross within arches of tremolier pattern. [No Reserve]
Provenance
Ex German art market, 2000s.
Acquired from an EU collector living in London.
From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.
VETTING:
TimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.
RELATED LOTS
-
Celtic to Medieval Bronze Ring Collection
1st century B.C.-16th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Comprising seven rings with decorative bezels, one with a broken hoop. 26.3 grams total, 14-23 mm
Acquired on the UK and EU art market before 2000. From the private collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.
Similar cast bronze rings with images of stylised animals and chevrons or other geometric patterns were found in the Necropolis of Zabran, Zemun, and dated 10th-15th century A.D. These rings were often decorated with stylised images of animals and geometric patterns. -
Medieval Bronze Ring Brooch Collection
14th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £52
Including circular type with six cells to the hoop, hexagram and other types, one with the inscription 'IhESVS Nazarenvs' [Jesus of Nazareth]. 17.39 grams total, 24-33 mm
Found Norfolk, UK. -
.jpg)
Medieval Wooden Bench Finial in the Form of an Elephant and Castle
England, 15th century A.D.Estimate: £3,500 - 4,500 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £1,750
Carved stylised elephant with elongated ears supporting a palanquin in the form of a caste with a carved cross, foliage motif to the reverse; mounted on a velvet-covered stand. 1.31 kg total, 34.2 cm including stand
Private collection, Europe. Acquired on the English art market. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13088-248391.
The image of an elephant carrying warriors in a howdah originated from Alexander the Great's battle against King Porus's war elephants at the Battle of Hydaspes in 326 BC. This motif became widely known in European art through the spread of Bestiaries which were medieval texts combining natural history with moralising Christian stories. One of the most well known was Matthew Paris’s imagined depictions of elephants, most notable in this case is his war elephant illustrated in Chronica maiora II, circa 1240-1255 (Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 016II). Another well known manuscript - The Rochester Bestiary, circa 1230-1240 (British Library, London, Royal MS 12 F.xiii) contains a miniature with a war elephant in the midst of battle, above another image of elephants supposedly in their natural habitat. Since very few live elephants were seen in Europe during the medieval period, their representations were often more imaginative than realistic. Other Medieval bench end carvings of elephants in English churches are known, amongst them are: St Peter and St Paul, Tuttington, Norfolk; St Andrew, South Lopham, Norfolk; St Edmund, South Burlingham, Norfolk; St Andrew, Holme Hale, Norfolk. Elephants can also be found on misericords, some examples can be found at: Cathedral Church of Saint Peter, Exeter; Cathedral Church of St Peter, Gloucester; and St Mary's Church, Beverley.
