Medieval Thumb Based Pot

Unframed roundel with black and silver-stained scene of the Crucifixion with red and yellow detailing; cracked. 300 grams, 25.7 cm



with De Baecque Encheres, 5 March 2022, no.43.

With thick segmented hoop and square bezel; each shoulder with a tapering panel depicting a winged nimbate figure, facing; below this, a rectangular panel with a voided cross; underside with a nimbate eagle; above the shoulders, two splayed fronds; lateral faces of the bezel with flowers, each larger face with nimbate figure on a hatched field; underside with inscription oremus (let us pray). 15.77 grams, 27.25 mm overall, 20.16 mm internal diameter (approximate size British U 1/2, USA 10 1/4, Europe 23, Japan 22)



Private collection, Arundel, West Sussex, UK, 1975-late 1990s.

The nimbate figures and inscription suggest that the ring was a devotional object belonging to a cleric or ecclesiastical leader.

Inner wooden casket with chamfered rim and separate lid, encased within rectangular gilt-bronze panels with enamel decoration, four gilt-bronze stud feet to the underside; the lid with three nimbate figures, a female saint with palm frond and two flanking figures holding books, all reserved on a blue field with interstitial polychrome rosettes; Side A: nimbate bearded bust of Christ in Majesty with right hand in gesture of benison, left hand supporting a book, flanked by two winged nimbate angels; Side B: nimbate bust of a winged angel in a roundel; Side C: geometric repeating pattern of lozenges with floral fill; Side D: mirror image of Side B. 760 grams, 14.5 cm



John Pierpont Morgan, New York, and London, until 1917. Private collection, Suffolk. Accompanied by a copy of a previous four page illustrated cataloguing document with references. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.12039-212154.

The two end-panels are believed to have been added at a later date than the longer panels and may have been trimmed slightly along the lower edges. The panels are attached with domed pins of various types.