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LOT 1297
Medieval 'Thames' and Other Bronze Thimble Collection
CIRCA 15TH-19TH CENTURY A.D.
5/8 - 7/8 in. (42.9 grams total, 16-22 mm).
Mixed group including beehive and tailor's ring types. [8, No Reserve]
ProvenanceFound Billingsgate spoil from the Thames foreshore, London, UK, and Essex, circa 1980s.
Property of an Essex collector.
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AUCTIONS:
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Medieval 'Thames' Pewter Pilgrim's Badge with Virgin & Child within Crescent Moon
Circa 14th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £65
Mary and the infant Christ on a crescent moon, stylised bird below, pellet detailing; pin stump to reverse 2.11 grams, 25 mm
Found Billingsgate spoil from the Thames foreshore, London, UK, circa 1984. Property of an Essex collector. -
Medieval Terracotta Pilgrim's Horn
Circa 15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £312
Formed with a slightly curved profile and with suspension loops; buff-coloured. 298 grams, 26.5 cm
Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection.
Apart from badges as souvenirs of visits to various saints’ shrines, pilgrims might also bear away with them various noise-making items such as horns, whistles, rattles and bells. The miniature horn-shaped lead whistles known from London and Salisbury bear various inscriptions including bla me [blow me] and ave maria. In the contemporary ‘morality’ play Mankind (c.1465-70) of East Anglian provenance, the character Nought says I kan pype in a Walsyngham wystyll, which suggests that such souvenir whistles were available from the shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham too, and that already such ‘tourist’ trinkets were regarded as a proverbial type of worthlessness, ‘not worth a whistle’, indeed. -
Medieval Knight's Enamelled Bronze 'Rochefort Family' Heraldic Horse Harness Pendant
14th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
On a heater-shaped shield with pierced loop at the apex, three horizontal bars with the remains of red enamel; possibly descended from Rochefort de Chars of Gasc. 10.05 grams, 39.64 mm
Found Norfolk, UK, circa 1990s.
