Medieval 'Thames' Castle Secular Badge with Key Below Draw Bridge

A bronze ellipsoid seal matrix with pierced quatrefoil finial; incuse motif of Mary seated with infant Jesus on her lap, star above her shoulder, kneeling robed and tonsured figure beside her with hand raised in prayer; Lombardic script legend to the border with beaded bands '* S' WILL'I DE ThORNTONE' (seal of William of Thornton). 12.8 grams, 25 mm



The Matrix Collection, formed by David Morris since the late 1980s. Matrix Collection catalogue no.909. 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.

Thornton is a village in West Yorkshire, close to the city of Bradford and mentioned in Domesday Book; it was where the Brontë sisters spent their early lives before moving to Haworth.

A gold posy ring with raised foliate band externally, inscribed '+AMOR VINCIT' for 'Love Conquers' in Roman capitals. 1.72 grams, 17.46 mm overall, 15.47 mm internal diameter (approximate size British I, USA 4 1/4, Europe 7.44, Japan 7)



Acquired on the UK antiques market between 1974-1985. Albert Ward collection, Essex, UK.

Omnia vincit amor, translating to 'Love Conquers All' and abbreviated on this ring, is one of the most famous of all Latin expressions. It is still used today, in the original Latin, in translation and in its alternative version ‘Amor vincit omnia’; the expression originally comes from the Roman poet Virgil, (Publius Vergilius Maro) most famous for his epic Aenid; the phrase appears in his first work, Eclogues.

A bronze horse harness pendant of four lobes with enamelled detailing; fleur-de-lys on each lobe, lion passant gardant in the central square. 13.7 grams, 41 mm



Found Cambridgeshire, UK.