Medieval Knight's Bronze Heraldic Horse Harness Pendant with Hanger

With applied outer layer of gold engraved with flowers and the words, “en bon an” (twice) (‘a good year’); the flat bezel with a recessed centre set with a medieval mother-of-pearl intaglio depicting a male bust in profile; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 4.72 grams, 23.64 mm overall, 20.45 mm internal diameter (approximate size British R 1/2, USA 8 3/4, Europe 19.38, Japan 18)



Found whilst searching with a metal detector in Dorset, UK, on Sunday, 30th December 2018. Acquired on the English art market. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.DEV-5E4EDA. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.13069-248371.

The inscription is in black letter appears to read “en bon an”, a good year. The inscription is paralleled on a good number of 15th century rings, often also decorated with flowers and branches between the words, such as British Museum catalogue numbers AF.1057 and 1960,1103.1.

Showing Our Lady Mary of Willesden in a crescent moon, holding a fleur-de-lys sceptre over her left shoulder whilst the infant Christ is cradled in her right arm; pin absent; accompanied by a slip reading: 'Medieval. Pilgrim Badge of Our Lady of Willesden, C. 15th-16th century. Pilgrim pewter badge of Virgin Mary & child within a crescent moon with a beaded border. The Virgin Mary is crowned, holding a sceptre in her left hand & supporting the infant Christ with her right arm. Ref.: Similar example in Pilgrim Souvenirs & Secular Badges by B.Spencer, pg 150, No. 159a. Provenance: Ex Graham Slater Collection, Cambs, collected between 1980's-1990's." 2.18 grams, 24 mm



From the private collection of the late Graham Slater (1927-2024), Cambridge, UK, acquired 1980s-1990s. Accompanied by a previous information slip.

Flat-section hoop with transverse bars flanking the discoid bezel; punched-point phi motif. 2.00 grams, 19.38 mm overall, 16.1 x 17.7 mm internal diameter (approximate size British L 1/2, USA 6, Europe 11.24, Japan 10)



From an old English collection, 1980s.