Medieval Gold Belt Buckle Strap End

Hollow-formed vessel formed as a male bust; discoid body with chamfered shoulder bearing bands of running zigzag detailing and three splayed feet; the head with low-relief hair and rim of bosses with linear spirals, gracile facial features with lentoid eyes and slender nose, small pouting mouth; short spout to the forehead, filler-hole to top of the head with hinged cover; handle to the rear formed as a reptile with head and forepaws placed on the hair below the hinge and joining the base above one of the feet. 1.27 kg, 18 cm



Acquired on the UK art market in 2001. with Christie's, London, 6 December 2017. Private collection, Suffolk. Accompanied by copies of a previous illustrated cataloguing document with references. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.12038-212152.

Aquamaniles in the form of a bust are a rarity compared to the quantity of zoomorphic forms known from the Middle Ages. The present piece was formed by lost-wax casting method, and is a very early example of such process for a vessel. Metallurgical analysis has shown that the piece is consistent with the suggested date.

With thick segmented hoop and square bezel; each shoulder with a tapering panel depicting a winged nimbate figure, facing; below this, a rectangular panel with a voided cross; underside with a nimbate eagle; above the shoulders, two splayed fronds; lateral faces of the bezel with flowers, each larger face with nimbate figure on a hatched field; underside with inscription oremus (let us pray). 15.77 grams, 27.25 mm overall, 20.16 mm internal diameter (approximate size British U 1/2, USA 10 1/4, Europe 23, Japan 22)



Private collection, Arundel, West Sussex, UK, 1975-late 1990s.

The nimbate figures and inscription suggest that the ring was a devotional object belonging to a cleric or ecclesiastical leader.

Fragment depicting the lower body of a robed figure holding a fringed border gathered in one hand, in a landscape. 87 grams, 15 cm



UK private collection, acquired before 1943.