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LOT 1741
Medieval Bronze Seal Matrix of Merchant John Catfield
14TH CENTURY A.D.
7/8 in. (11.7 grams, 22 mm).
Discoid base with geometric merchant's mark on a foliage field, beaded border and legend 'S' IOhIS CATFELT' (seal of John [of] Catfield); stem and lug absent. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFound Hingham, Norfolk, UK, in 2017.
Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no. NMS-17A6B8.
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AUCTIONS:
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Medieval Pewter Pilgrim's Badge with Knight and Swords
14th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
Quatrefoil panel with radiating spurs in the spandrels, high-relief mask of a helmetted warrior flanked by two drawn swords. 13.4 grams, 47 mm
From a Yorkshire, UK, collection, 1990s. -
Medieval and Other Artefact Group
1st-20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £72
Including buckle loops, buttons, fasteners, milled coins and other items, 1.06 kg total, 8-86 mm
Found Cambridgeshire, UK. -
'The Drayton' Medieval Gold Ring with Magical Inscription
1200-1300 A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £7,150
The bezel developing to a low pyramid with lateral facets, surmounted by an inset cabochon sapphire set within an irregular cell; a quatrefoil plaque to each shoulder, and three more regularly placed around the shank; carinated hoop with magical Lombardic script '+NI ONAN NRIO ONIC / NIAI AINO ANIOI NAN'. 3.95 grams, 25.72 mm overall, 19.75 x 18.44 mm internal diameter (approximate size British R, USA 8 1/2, Europe 18 3/4, Japan 18)
Found whilst searching with a metal detector near Drayton, Vale of the White Horse, Oxfordshire, UK, on Sunday 16th September 2018 by Chris Weir. Declared as treasure under the Treasure Act with reference no.2018T853, subsequently disclaimed and returned to the finder. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.GLO-0BFB91. Accompanied by a letter from the finder describing the circumstances of finding. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.12118-214086.
Many late medieval rings and brooches bear similarly meaningless inscriptions, perhaps due to the illiteracy of the engraver who nevertheless was aware that customers required an inscription, so provided one. Alternatively, since the text is composed from repeated sequences 'NI', 'AI', etc. based on an open syllabic structure, the words may be intended as a chant or magical charm. For discussion of such inscriptions see Evans, J., Magical Jewels of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, Oxford, 1922, pp.121-132, for inscribed jewels.
