Medieval Personal Lead Seal Matrix

An annular brooch set with decorative oak leaves, tall collet at the top set with a garnet cabochon, dagger-shaped pin. 1.74 grams, 18 mm



Private collection, UK.

In medieval jewellery, garnets were highly prized for their deep red hue and believed mystical properties. Associated with protection, vitality, and divine love, garnets were thought to ward off illness, protect against injury, and illuminate the darkness—both literal and spiritual. Their rich colour made them a symbol of Christ’s sacrifice, and they frequently appeared in religious and funerary jewellery. Garnets were also connected to concepts of faithfulness and truth, making them a popular choice in personal adornment and ecclesiastical pieces throughout the Middle Ages. Oak trees were widely regarded as symbols of strength, stability, and endurance, owing to their longevity and robust nature. In jewellery, oak leaves could represent resilience, fortitude, and the ability to withstand adversity—virtues admired in both secular and religious life. Within Christian art and ornamentation, the oak also carried spiritual significance, evoking the Tree of Life and the strength of faith. It was often interpreted as a symbol of God’s protection, particularly in devotional objects or pieces with sacred motifs.

Wide hoop with expanding shoulders, one decorated with a stylised flower, the other with a palm branch, bezel with an expanding arm cross motif with pellets between the arms. 7.82 grams, 22.76 mm overall, 18.88 mm internal diameter (approximate size British R, USA 8 1/2, Europe 18 3/4, Japan 18)



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.

A mixed group of artefacts, some fragmentary, including arrowheads, mounts and a spoon. 318 grams total, 1.4-13.3 cm



From a Dunmow, UK, collection; formed from 1970.