Medieval Gold Quatrefoil Mount with Garnet

Mixed group of irregular fragments of sheet bronze castings, mostly 2-4mm in thickness. 4.67 kg total, 1.9-12.2 cm



UK gallery, early 2000s.

The obverse depicting the busts of St Peter and St Paul each within an inverted pear shaped compartment defined by pellets; cross pattee supported on a staff between the busts and at the top of the bulla in the centre the letters 'SPASPE', abbreviations for St Paul and St Peter; reverse inscribed over three lines 'ALE/XANDER/PP.IIII', with an omega above the letters 'PP'; both obverse and reverse faces with a pelleted perimeter. 31.1 grams, 30 mm



Private collection, UK.

The 'PP' abbreviation stands for 'pastor pastorum', translated as 'shepherd of the shepherds'. The bulla was so named because it was attached to Papal documents or 'Bullae'. They were sent from the offices of the Pope in Rome and the seal signified that the document was issued with the Pope's authority. Alexander's pontificate was signalled by efforts to reunite the Eastern Orthodox churches with the Catholic Church, by the establishment of the Inquisition in France, by favours shown to the mendicant orders, and by an attempt to organize a crusade against the Mongols after the second Mongol raid against Poland in 1259.

With wreath detailing to the shank, octagonal plaque bezel with merchant's mark and blackletter 'i h' flanking. 9.96 grams, 29.40 mm overall, 23.90 mm internal diameter (approximate size British Z+2 1/2, USA 13 3/4, Europe 32.01, Japan 30)



From the collection of the famous author, writer and speaker, Gordon Bailey, Essex, UK; formed since 1968. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12293-219669.