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Details
LOT 0348
Medieval Lead Gregory X Papal Bulla
1271-1276 A.D.
1 3/8 in. (34.4 grams, 37 mm).
The obverse depicting the busts of St Peter and St Paul each within a compartment defined by pellets; cross pattee supported on a staff between the busts; at the top of the bulla in the centre, legend 'SPASPE' (abbreviations for St Paul and St Peter); reverse inscribed in Lombardic script in three lines 'GRE/GORIVS./PP. X', with an omega above the letters 'PP' and curlicue after 'X'; both obverse and reverse faces with a pelletted perimeter.
Provenance
Found Norfolk, UK.
Accompanied by an illustrated report from Andy Flowers KLMD dated November 2013.
Footnotes
Pope Gregory IX, born Ugolino di Conti, was the 178th Pope of the Catholic Church, reigning from 1227 to 1241. He is known for his strong defence of papal authority, his role in the Crusades, and his establishment of the Papal Inquisition.
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Both inscriptions can be interpreted differently according to the order of their reading; the front can be read ‘IN JUNO ANI VIVAM TI’, which roughly translates as ‘May I live for you in the fastening’, alternatively ‘VIVAM[vs] IN VNO ANI[mo]’ which roughly translates as ‘Let us live as one soul’. The back reads: 'AMORIVNTVANVNTVI' ‘AMOR[is] IVN[c]T[i] ANVNTIV[s]’ which roughly translates as ‘a message of joint love’. The inscriptions on the brooch serve as metaphors, linking its function of fastening materials to the binding of lovers in medieval romance. Gift-giving was central to courtly love, and the brooch symbolised both affection and protection, reminding the wearer of the giver’s love while also warding off unwanted advances.
