Medieval Handled Jug

A silver vesica seal matrix with pierced lug to the reverse; central incuse fleur-de-lys motif; outer band with incuse legend "+ SIGIL IOhIS : bARING:" (seal of John Baring); collector number '109' to reverse. 18.4 grams, 35 mm



The Matrix Collection, formed by David Morris since the late 1980s. Matrix Collection catalogue no.0109. Many of the seals within the collection were published in a book titled 'The Matrix Collection', by David Morris in 2012. Accompanied by a copy of the illustrated collection notes.

The 'A' of Baring is formed with a chevron bar (as is seen on some English coins of the medieval period); the 'N' is retrograde and the 'G' of Lombardic form; a member of the Baring family was Prior of Winchester Abbey (1364-1384 AD) and vesica-shaped matrices are often associated with clerics.

A copper-alloy ring composed of a slender hoop (now slightly misshaped), expanding at the shoulders to an oval bezel engraved with a stylised regardant beast within a dashed frame. 2.66 grams, 21.44 mm overall, 16.73 mm internal diameter (approximate size British M, USA 6, Europe 12.46, Japan 12)



Private collection formed since the 1940s. UK art market. Property of an Essex gentleman.

A silver-gilt fede ring composed of a flat-section hoop with expanded bottom section and quatrefoil bezel; the hoop engraved with alternating vertical and horizontal hatched panels with expanded central section crudely engraved with clasped hands; bezel engraved with a cross embellished with cross-hatching in each quarter of the field. 2.69 grams, 24.69 mm overall, 22.78 mm internal diameter (approximate size British X, USA 11 1/2, Europe 26.23, Japan 25)



Found near Brookland, Kent, UK, 2007. Property of a Kent gentleman. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no. KENT-299A33. Accompanied by a copy of two letters from the British Museum and report for HM Coroner for Treasure case T493. Accompanied by a valuation letter and another from Peter D Spencer. Accompanied by a provisional treasure valuation for the Treasure Valuation Committee.

The quatrefoil bezel is in the form of a truelove (paris quadrifolia) as the plant was called in Middle English. Two fifteenth-century wills include the bequest of rings in the shape of a truelove: in 1407 an anulum argenti operatum cum uno trewlove [silver ring fashioned with a truelove] and in 1464, unum anulum argenti et deauratum cum uno trew lofe [a silver and silver-gilt ring with a truelove] On seals the device is most often accompanied by the legend LEL AMI AVET [you have a true love] confirming its identification with faithful love, and on a matrix recently unearthed [PAS database SWYOR-B7EDA9] the characteristic four veined leaves are surrounded by the posy, IS SVI FLVRE/ DE FINN AMVVR [I am the flower of perfect love].