Details

LOT 0486

Medieval Gold 'I am a gift of love' Posy Ring Brooch

13TH-14TH CENTURY AD

1/2" (1.46 grams, 14mm).

A gold annular brooch with sub-circular frame, sub-rectangular in cross-section, with moulded decoration of a pair of clasped hands at one of the cardinal points and a quatrefoil at each of the remaining three; outer and inner rims with pronounced beading; Old French inscription on the front face in blackletter characteristic of the period, "+ IC - SVI - DE.D - RVC" probably for "+ IE - SVI - DE. D - RVE", translated by John Cherry as "I am [a gift] of love"; gold pin tapered along its length with a beaded collar at the hinged end, resting on a reduced section of the frame in the centre of one of the floral mouldings; the reverse plain, except that the clasped hands are fully three-dimensionally moulded.

Provenance

Found near Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, UK; on 16th September 2017, by Andrew Firth whilst metal detecting; accompanied by the treasure report for H M Coroner; a copy of the disclaimed treasure letter from the British Museum dated 16 January 2018; and a copy of the Portable Antiquities Scheme report SWYOR-3316AD.

Published

Recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme under reference SWYOR-3316AD.

Literature

Disclaimed under the Treasure Act, reference number 2017T1019.

CONDITION