Medieval Stamped Lead Ingot Group

Modelled with a threatening expression, his half-open mouth visibly contracted into an evil grin with exposed teeth, short beard to the chin and wavy locks of hair resting on the forehead with two small horns, large goat horns framing the face on both sides; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 8.4 kg total, 30.5 cm high including stand



From a collection acquired on the UK art market. Property of a West Midlands, UK, private collector. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

From the Romanesque era onwards, images of demons, often carved on the external sides of cathedrals and churches, were strongly linked to the fantastical and monstrous creatures of ancient myth and legend. For theologians, supernatural creatures which could not otherwise be explained were not of God and therefore had to be demonic: their incorporation in the ecclesiastic structures showed that their malevolent powers could be kept under control only through the protection of the church. This origin of Christian demons is likely to have influenced the visual representation in medieval culture as hybrid and monstrous, especially given the increased interest in Greek works from the twelfth century onwards in the West.

A substantial London type VI key of the lozenge bow circle type, with lozenge-shaped terminal with four circular drilled holes, one near each corner; small circular, hollow protrusion at its furthest end and a slightly raised collar at the top of the stem; the stem sub-circular and with a large rectangular indented bit with linear depression running along its longest edge, bisected by two smaller depressions; a further depression in its short, upper edge. 65 grams, 10 cm



Found near Hinckley, Leicestershire, UK, circa 2005. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

D-section hoop with octagonal bezel, facetted cone with inset replacement sapphire cabochon. 2.29 grams, 24.92 mm overall, 20.52 mm internal diameter (approximate size British R 1/2, USA 8 3/4, Europe 19.38, Japan 18)



Private collection, UK. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12739-235715. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.