Medieval Bronze Ring with Prancing Human-Headed Lion

Discoid seal with designs to both faces: obverse, facing figure with crozier in left hand and right hand raised in the gesture of blessing, surrounding legen '+HVGO DEI GRACIA ABBAS' (Hugh, abbot by the grace of God); reverse, domed temple building with surrounding legend '+SIGILLVM TEMPLI DOMIN[I]' (seal of the Lord's temple). 16.1 grams, 27 mm



Found Suffolk, UK. From an old private collection of Norfolk, UK, gentleman, formed since 1998. Accompanied by a copy of UK Detector Finds Database (UKDFD) report no.57066.

The 'Hugo' referred to in the legend is probably the Abbot Hugh who was active from 1157 to 1180 AD. This seal provides valuable evidence for the overall appearance of the Cathedral at Bury in the 12th century.

Including enclosed bell-shaped, openwork single-face and other types; many of these objects are published in the Detector Finds book series. 125 grams total, 31-53 mm



From the collection of the famous author, writer and speaker, Gordon Bailey, Essex, UK; formed since 1968.

Group of nine carved bone panels from a casket, most with a tapering upper third and openwork vegetation at the top; comprising: young man resting his hands on a teardrop shield, beside a fir-tree, looking right; winged nimbate angel in floor-length robe reaching upwards towards a three-horned crown; winged nimbate angel in floor-length robe holding a naked sword in her right hand and scales in her left; winged nimbate figure in floor-length robe holding a serpent in each hand, with three faces conjoined; winged angel in floor-length robe sitting on a dais, holding a discoid object with a bifid handle (perhaps a lute); winged nimbate angel in floor-length robe holding a chalice in her right hand and cross in her left; winged nimbate angel in floor-length robe holding a flaming torch in her right hand and grasping the raised hands of a child with her left; winged nimbate angel in floor-length robe with two ewers, pouring liquid from one to the other; young man resting his hands on a teardrop shield, beside a fir-tree, looking left; mounted on a wooden display stand. 1.08 kg total, 48.5 cm wide including stand



Acquired Delchar, London, 2011. Private collection, Suffolk, UK. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12291-221716.

The Bottega degli Embriachi was an important producer of artworks carved in bone (and occasionally ivory) in a framework of inlaid wood. It was active in Northern Italy from circa 1375 A.D. until circa 1433. It relocated from Florence to Venice about 1395. The Bottega was especially known for 'marriage caskets' with tall columnar lids, with carved bone figural panels. Some of the panels here are evidently Christian (the figure with the cross and chalice) while others are perhaps purely symbolic (Justice with sword and scales) and some are simply puzzling (e.g. the three-faced figure with serpents).