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LOT 0369
Medieval Embroidered Orphrey with Six Saints
SOUTHERN NETHERLANDS, 15TH CENTURY A.D.
41 in. (502 grams, 104 cm).
Rectangular textile panel with six figural scenes within laid work borders; each figure a nimbate saint with couched robes, satin stitch facial features, threaded sequins and other detailing; modern fabric backing. [No Reserve]
Provenancewith SVV Prunier, 20 May 2018, no.86.
Ex central London gallery.
Cf. for comparison an embroidered panel part of the dalmatic in MET, accession no.64.101.1381, in Hartt, F., The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Vol. 4, The Renaissance in Italy and Spain, New York, 1988, pp.67-69.
FootnotesThis substantial embroidered panel comes from an ecclesiastic Dalmatic composed up of various sections, each section comprising an applied figure embroidered in yellow-brown colours with the addition of light blue in some figures. From top to bottom two female saints, probably the Virgin Mary and her Holy Mother Anna; in the second central panels are represented Saint Peter, keys in hand, and probably his brother Andrew. Saint Augustine and Saint Thomas Aquinas are possibly the subjects of the last two vertical panels. The embroidery technique used is including fine worked nué, in which metallic threads are laid down and worked over in silk, with split stitch.
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Medieval Silver Seal Matrix for John the Evangelist with Roman Eagle Gemstone
13th-14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,380
The outer band with incuse legend '+ AQUILA IOhANNIS' (Eagle of [Saint] John]), suspension loop above with a leaf terminal to the reverse; set with a 2nd century A.D. Roman carnelian intaglio with a military eagle standing with spread wings, a laurel crown held in its beak, the claws gripping the base, two military standards at its sides; both shafts decorated with alternating phalerae, and lunulae. 3.74 grams, 21 mm
From the Smith family collection, formed in the late 1940s-1980s. 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 a search certificate number no. 12045-217155.
Often the military intaglio gemstones of the ancient Rome were carved with an eagle between two standards. These intaglios could have been inserted in rings that belonged to an officer with the rank of Aquilifer (bearer of the legionary eagle). From the 4th century A.D., the vision of Ezekiel and John's Apocalypse, assigned the lion, the angel, the eagle, and the ox a place in the iconography of the Tetramorph to represent the four evangelists. -
'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. -
Medieval Bronze Seal Matrix of Merchant John Catfield
14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £33
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. 11.7 grams, 22 mm
Found Hingham, Norfolk, UK, in 2017. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no. NMS-17A6B8.
