Medieval 'Thames' Bone Dice Pair

A square-section sandstone font with carinated sidewall, carved with arcading around the upper body, non-identical fleurs and plant forms to the centre of the side faces and to one of four chamfered corners; channels to three of the four corners of the upper face; circular drainage hole to interior base. 30.4 kg, 30 x 30 cm



English private collection, 1980s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11662-199832.

A bronze chessman-type seal matrix with pierced trefoil finial; hatched field with reserved heater shield bearing a Lombardic capital 'G', band to the rim with incuse legend "* S' : CVSTVME : PANNORVM:". 28.1 grams, 37 mm



The Matrix Collection, formed by David Morris since the late 1980s. Found Romney Marsh, Kent, UK, on Monday 1st December 2008 by Graham Collard. Matrix Collection catalogue no.4604. Many of the seals within the collection were published in a book titled 'The Matrix Collection', by David Morris in 2012. Accompanied by a copy of the illustrated collection notes. Accompanied by a copy of the UK Detector Finds Database record entry no.16201.

The seal relates to the payment of duty (custume) on imported cloth, and was presumably used by a customs official.

A gold posy ring composed of a waisted band with pearled and raised upper and lower borders, each decorated with a circumferential ring of pellets, the central section engraved with a blackletter French inscription: 'nul ce bien' ('none so well'), each word separated by sunbursts and flowers; plain interior. 1.83 grams, 18.11 mm overall, 16.35 mm internal diameter (approximate size British J 1/2, USA 5, Europe 9.32, Japan 9)



Found whilst searching with a metal detector by Kevin Ford on 25th January 2020 in Chinnor, South Oxfordshire, UK. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme Report (PAS) number OXON-FF9F8E. Accompanied by a letter to HM Coroner for Oxfordshire from the Treasure Registrar at the British Museum disclaiming the Crown's interest in the ring with treasure reference number 2020 T76. Accompanied by a letter from the finder detailing the circumstances of the find. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11657-196665.

French Gothic blackletter inscriptions on finger rings were associated with the culture of chivalry and courtly love; a historic example of gifts and tokens as expressions of love. Some scholars note that black letter inscriptions are prevalent on love rings between the 13th-15th centuries. Although such rings could be both English and French in origin, it is believed that most were English, with French inscriptions. Note that the PAS offers a different interpretation of the inscription on this ring.