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Details
LOT 1657
Medieval Bronze Vesica-Shaped Personal Seal Matrix for Walter
14TH-15TH CENTURY A.D.
1 1/4 in. (5.36 grams, 32 mm).
With incuse fleur-de-lys motif an border with legend '+ S' WALTER.LE [.] MA[...]'; loop and strap to reverse. [No Reserve]
Provenance
Acquired on the UK art market.
Property of an Essex, UK, gentleman.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 1657
Medieval Bronze Vesica-Shaped Personal Seal Matrix for Walter
Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
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'The Witham on the Hill' Medieval Gold 'The Beautiful Game' Posy Ring with Matched Pairs of Flowers
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Found whilst searching with a metal detector near Witham on the Hill, South Kesteven, Lincolnshire, UK, on Sunday 9th January 2022, by Mark Bowen. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.CAM-D675E8. Accompanied by a copy of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Treasure receipt and and disclaimed with Treasure case tracking no.2022T153. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12139-214843.
The final word of the inscription is ie for ie[u], an Anglo-Norman spelling of modern French jeu ‘game’. The game in question is, of course, love (not football!). The ‘game’ of love here is what we now refer to as Courtly Love (amour courtois, fin amor) and the phrase ‘beautiful game’ is also found on another ring recorded on the PAS database as YORYM-0A0FD2, the whole, a rhyming couplet, reading AMIE EN VV/ [E]ST MA VIE BELE GIEV [Beloved, in you my life is a beautiful game].