Medieval Lead Fishing Weight Group

Comprising a single cutting edge and scale tang; bifacial pommel engraved with a female figure to one face and an enigmatic design to the other. 35 grams, 17 cm



Acquired 1960s-1990s. Late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister.

There were four essential ways to carry the small knifes in late Middle Ages: a) with the scabbard tucked diagonally behind belt, without suspension loop; b) without scabbard, simply thrust through the purse of the belt; c) with the scabbard tied horizontally at waist with suspension holes in the widened handle flap; d) suspended vertically from thong looped over the belt, in the scabbard.

Comprising: a 6th century Dark Age round gilded brooch; a 15th century medieval bronze swivel hook with domed shaped gilded top; and a 11th-12th century copper-alloy chape with plain top half, the lower part ending in a wolf’s head covered with small indentations and raised ears, with a small suspension loop on the snout. 35 grams total, 27-65 mm



From the collection of the famous author, writer and speaker, Gordon Bailey, Essex, UK; formed since 1968.

Most of the strap ends recovered in Britain date from the 12th century onwards, this being the period when they were widely used by both men and women. The strap end was made from various metals including bronze, copper (normally gilded, silvered or tinned) pewter, tin, silver, gold and iron. Our specimen, probably dated to 11th-12th century A.D., continue the style of the Anglo-Viking beast mounts of the previous centuries.

Group of nine carved bone panels from a casket, most with a tapering upper third and openwork vegetation at the top; comprising: young man resting his hands on a teardrop shield, beside a fir-tree, looking right; winged nimbate angel in floor-length robe reaching upwards towards a three-horned crown; winged nimbate angel in floor-length robe holding a naked sword in her right hand and scales in her left; winged nimbate figure in floor-length robe holding a serpent in each hand, with three faces conjoined; winged angel in floor-length robe sitting on a dais, holding a discoid object with a bifid handle (perhaps a lute); winged nimbate angel in floor-length robe holding a chalice in her right hand and cross in her left; winged nimbate angel in floor-length robe holding a flaming torch in her right hand and grasping the raised hands of a child with her left; winged nimbate angel in floor-length robe with two ewers, pouring liquid from one to the other; young man resting his hands on a teardrop shield, beside a fir-tree, looking left; mounted on a wooden display stand. 1.08 kg total, 48.5 cm wide including stand



Acquired Delchar, London, 2011. Private collection, Suffolk, UK. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12291-221716.

The Bottega degli Embriachi was an important producer of artworks carved in bone (and occasionally ivory) in a framework of inlaid wood. It was active in Northern Italy from circa 1375 A.D. until circa 1433. It relocated from Florence to Venice about 1395. The Bottega was especially known for 'marriage caskets' with tall columnar lids, with carved bone figural panels. Some of the panels here are evidently Christian (the figure with the cross and chalice) while others are perhaps purely symbolic (Justice with sword and scales) and some are simply puzzling (e.g. the three-faced figure with serpents).