Medieval Bronze Ring with Stylised Bird

From a Lamentation scene, modelled in the round with naturalistic facial features and flowing hair; Mary depicted kneeling and wearing a long tunica talaris with short sleeves; her head downcast with sorrowful expression, lips slightly parted. 4.95 kg, 33 cm



Ex Palau Antiguitats, Barcelona, 2022. Ex central London gallery. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11748-202078.

Mary was considered the former sinner par excellence who, having abandoned the path of sinful vice, returned to original purity through the light of Christ, and accompanied Jesus until the last moments, shared the pain of his death with his mother and was witness of the Resurrection. Because of this, her appearance was often that of a simple girl, with long hair that echoed the biblical account. It was believed that through devotion and prayer to images of Mary Magdalene, the viewer might, like her, regain purity and find the same redemption that she was given by Christ.

Comprising a single-edged blade, rivets for a scale tang; remains of quillon. 132 grams, 31.5 cm



Acquired 1960s-1990s. Late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister.

This is a weapon rather than a domestic knife, and is depicted as a sidearm for soldiers and knights alike from various iconography. This type of dagger was in use from the 14th to mid 16th century, this example finds similarities with Hauswehrs used in Eastern Europe during the 15th-16th centuries A.D.

Composed of a slender round-section hoop and oval bezel with green glass cabochon in claw setting. 3.29 grams, 21.64 mm overall, 18.38 mm internal diameter (approximate size British L 1/2, USA 6, Europe 11.87, Japan 11)



Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection.