Medieval 'Thames' Leather Shoe Fragment Collection

An annular gold band with everted upper and lower lip, filigree ropework above and below each rim, with circumferential inscription to the recessed exterior face; of the five separate bands, the central one accommodating an applied strip of paler gold bearing a Medieval French blackletter inscription in relief, reading: '+loiautet (5 five cinquefoils) pas tout (5 five cinquefoils)', or 'Loyalty Passes All'; the inscription band may once have been enamelled; plain interior; the outer rim and twisted band on one edge are slightly bent; cleaned and repaired. 2.57 grams, 19.60 mm overall,17.39 mm internal diameter (approximate size British M 1/2, USA 6 1/4, Europe 12.46, Japan 12)



Found whilst searching with a metal detector in Bettiscombe, Dorset, UK, on 26th September 2019, and reported as a find of potential treasure to Ciorstaidh Hayward Trevarthen, Finds Liaison Officer. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report number DOR-551573. Accompanied by a copy of a letter from the British Museum to H M Senior Coroner for Dorset disclaiming the Crown's interest in the treasure find with reference number 2019 T1075. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11656-197165.

The PAS report states that Joan Evans notes a similar inscription- 'LOIALTE PASE TO' - found on plate and ornaments in the inventories of Louis d'Anjou and Louis de Valois, duc de Touraine...' in her book English Posies and Posy Rings.

A scale tanged knife with iron blade and single cutting edge, wooden scales, bronze pommel incised with a veiled female figure to one face and a male figure to the other; remains of gilding to the neck of the handle. 22.7 grams, 18.2 cm long



Acquired 1960s-1990s. Late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister.

A substantial bronze seal matrix with pierced tongue-shaped handle, incuse star close to the rim for alignment of the design; central heraldic heater shield with stylised wreath surrounding; design of a vertical bar with forked upper finial flanked by two cinquefoils; border with incuse edges and incuse 'lieu en sce peueu et gherzte' or similar slightly enigmatic inscription, possibly relating to a location in the Netherlands; with collector number '2563' on back of disc. 32.11 grams, 31 mm wide



The Matrix Collection, formed by David Morris since the late 1980s. Acquired Libert, October 2008, lot 65. Matrix Collection catalogue no.2563. 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.