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_900x900.jpg "Medieval de Blanchfort or de Molay Family Personal Silver Heraldic Seal Matrix")
_200x200.jpg "Medieval de Blanchfort or de Molay Family Personal Silver Heraldic Seal Matrix")
_900x900.jpg "Medieval de Blanchfort or de Molay Family Personal Silver Heraldic Seal Matrix")
_200x200.jpg "Medieval de Blanchfort or de Molay Family Personal Silver Heraldic Seal Matrix")
.jpg "Medieval de Blanchfort or de Molay Family Personal Silver Heraldic Seal Matrix")
.jpg "Medieval de Blanchfort or de Molay Family Personal Silver Heraldic Seal Matrix")
LOT 0312
Medieval de Blanchfort or de Molay Family Personal Silver Heraldic Seal Matrix
CIRCA 1400-1540 A.D.
1 1/8 in. (12.41 grams, 27 mm high).
With a hexagonal-section facetted handle tapering to a collar of three ridges and openwork trefoil terminal; the face of the matrix with incised heater shield and heraldic arms: a bend and crescent top right; within a trefoil arched tressure a Latin inscription: ' * AVE MARIA GRACIA PLENA' meaning: 'Hail Mary, full of grace'; possibly the arms of the de Blanchfort or de Molay family.
ProvenanceFound whilst searching with a metal detector near Charlton Marshall, North Dorset, on 16 February 2022 by John Earley; recorded as Treasure with Treasure case tracking no.2022T500, and subsequently disclaimed by the Crown.
Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.DOR-771829.
Accompanied by a copy of the report on a find of potential Treasure for H M Coroner from Charlton Marshall, Dorset.
Accompanied by a copy of a letter from the British Museum informing the finder that the Crown's interest in the find has been disclaimed.
The basic heraldic design (the arms) comprises just a bend (diagonal stripe). The crescent is a mark of cadency, denoting the second son i.e. the younger brother of the heir apparent. The basic 'bend' motif appears in many heraldic designs, such as the arms of the de Blanchfort or de Molay families, amongst others. The heraldry of the town of Chaussin (Jura, France) is similar (bend and crescent) but these arms are not known to have been borne by a family.
CONDITIONTimeLine 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:
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LOT 0312
Medieval de Blanchfort or de Molay Family Personal Silver Heraldic Seal Matrix
Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,495
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Medieval Stained Glass Panel
England or France, 15th-16th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,160
Rectangular panel composed of lozenge-shaped tiles with trees, scrolled motifs, a sun, and three with partial inscription. 1.9 kg, 56.6 x 29 cm
Private collection, London, UK. -
Medieval Pewter Head of John the Baptist Pilgrim's Badge
England, 14th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £52
Discoid type depicting a bearded face within a raised border of annulets, each with a pellet at its centre; integrally cast pin to reverse. 2.97 grams, 20 mm
Found Alford, Lincolnshire, UK. Recorded with UKDFD no.49065.
The badge possibly represents the head of John the Baptist on a platter, but an alternative interpretation is that it depicts the face of Christ in a form known as the 'Vernicle' or 'Veronica', which arises from the legend that the face of Christ was miraculously impressed on the handkerchief or veil that Saint Veronica gave to him to wipe his face on the way to Calvary. In support of the case for this interpretation, Spencer illustrates another circular badge of generally similar type (No. 254c), but with a border inscribed with the first line of a popular 14th-century prayer composed in honour of the Vernicle. In support of the case for the John the Baptist interpretation, some very similar badges depict a rather dishevelled head with a sharply couped neck. -
Romanesque Limestone Capital with Reef Knot
Visigothic Style, 12th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £7,670
Pillar capital for an architectural column or pier decorated with dense vegetation motifs, tapering swags or garlands; reef-knot motif and leaves above; unworked to the reverse. 74 kg total, 51.5 cm high including stand
Ex French collection. Holz Artles, 25 April 2015, no.83. Private collection, Kensington, London. Private collection, UK. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13383-259007.
This finely carved capital belongs to a group of Romanesque capitals known as knotwork capitals, widespread in the South of France and North of Spain, where the influence of the architecture of the old Visigothic Kingdom was still strong. These capitals probably originate in one of the most famous sculpture workshops of Romanesque France. The base of the capital is topped by a row of abstractly sculpted acanthus leaves. The dominant section of the capital is decorated with stylised knotwork, composed of ornament that entwine and end in folded acanthus leaves. In between the entwined branches, there is more foliage forming the ‘head of a monster’ which playfully animates the sculpture.
