Medieval Stained Glass Double Window of Tracery Heads

Central panel decorated with a heart pierced by two arrows and inscription: 'qui de bon [COER] eyme', and verso openwork carving of blind interlaces and inscription: 'de bon [COER] donne', translating to 'He who loves from the heart, gives with a good heart'; probably given as a love token. 58 grams, 15 cm



Private collection, USA. Private collection, Suffolk. Accompanied by a copy of an illustrated catalogue document.

Medieval specialist Dr Malcolm Jones writes: 'The same formula and use of the rebus heart-device can be found engraved on contemporary jewellery, e.g. on a 14th/15thC English gold ring recently on the French antique jewellery market which is inscribed in Black Letter script, ie. uous eme bien [I love you very much - de bon ♥ - from a good heart]. The familiar heart-symbol ♥ -- which nowadays we ‘read’ as love [I ♥ New York] -- makes its first appearance as a rebus in this late medieval era, engraved on rings, where it is to be read as the noun, coer/cuer, etc. One of its earliest appearances is on a bronze ring of 13th or 14thC date in the British Museum inscribed in Lombardic capitals: A VILA MON ♥ [Here is my heart GARDI LI MO[Y] keep it for me].

Page of a rag-paper bible with text printed in two columns with marginal notes to both sides; portion of Apocalipsis (Revelations); printed in Strasbourg by Johann Grüninger with commentary by Nicholas de Lyra. 5.67 grams, 22.5 x 32.6 cm



Ex Cummings collection, UK, 1990s.

Johannes Grüninger (1455-1533) was a prolific German printer active from 1482 to 1533 who printed up to 80 books a year in Latin and in German, as well as wall-maps. His bible was issued in two volumes, which allowed it be produced on smaller pages than for most standard editions.

Irregular glass panels in original lead cames forming a trefoil outline; painted foliage detailing to the pale yellow segments; some cracked and portions absent. 1.2 kg, 52 cm



German private collection, until 2013. Ex central London gallery.