Medieval Limestone Capital with Felines

Group of four quatrefoil plaques, each with a hole to the end of each arm for attachment and detailed enamelled image of an evangelist's emblem (man, lion, eagle, calf) on a deep blue field. 26 grams total, 48-50 mm



with Galerie Charles Ratton, 2021. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12058-217470.

From the 4th century A.D., the vision of Ezekiel and John's Apocalypse, assigned the lion, the angel, the eagle, and the ox a place in the iconography of the Tetramorph to represent the four evangelists. Therefore, during the Middles Ages and until today, the evangelists' emblems are: Matthew represented by an angel, Mark by a lion, Luke by a calf and John by an eagle. Strangely, in this set the image of an angel holding a scroll bears the inscription 'Marcus' (St Mark). These quatrefoils were usually decorating caskets keeping relics of saints, holy books or crosses.

With D-section hoop, chamfered shoulders each with incised cross moline motif, square bezel with seriffed 'M' within a border. 9.39 grams, 27.37 mm overall, 19.72 mm internal diameter (approximate size British Q 1/2, USA 8 1/4, Europe 18.12, Japan 17)



Ex property of a late Japanese collector, 1970s.

With substantial hook, pyramidal collar and enamelled lozenge panels: obverse with a red bend bearing three reserved stars on a blue-striped field; reverse with reserved bend on blue field with six reserved stars, an extremely rare type. 38 grams, 78 mm



Found Grimsby, UK. From an East Anglian private collection.

The arms to the obverse are similar to those of Richard de Valoines (barry of six azure and or, a bend gules).