Merovingian Gold Necklace Bead

Round-section hoop with applied granule trefoil to each shoulder, ellipsoid bezel with beaded wire collar, stepped cell, inset silver plaque with niello-filled design of a stylised portrait bust with legend above '+MISI[T]'; inked legend to reverse 'f20' and old Christie's tag. 8.50 grams, 23.40 mm overall, 19.15 mm internal diameter (approximate size British Q, USA 8, Europe 17.49, Japan 16)



with Christies, sale 3498, 11 December 2014, lot 291. Accompanied by an original Christie's lot tag.

Comprising: matched pair of silver bow brooches, each a D-shaped headplate with lateral posts and knop finials, C-shaped bow with rosette to each end and cross below, tongue-shaped footplate, two transverse bars to reverse of headplate, spring and pin, catch below; matched pair of smaller bow brooches each with triangular headplate and radiating knops, carinated bow, tongue-shaped footplate, remains of ferrous spring and catch to the reverse; dress pin with biconvex fluted head; tweezers with pointillé band to each arm. 132 grams total, 5.1-14.6 cm



Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s. From the family collection of Mr S.A., Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection since the late 1990s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12143-218210.

Comprising: ellipsoid loop with hollowed underside, segmented at lateral edges; tongue with violin-shaped shield, waisted and curved over the forward edge of the loop; rectangular plate with applied sheet-gold cellwork and frame to the obverse, segmented along the edges, comprising a central gold lion-mask in a circular frame surrounded by a ring of cells with garnet cloisons and four radiating arms forming a cross also with garnet cloisons, field of larger cells with cloisons, inset malachite square inlay to each corner; four pierced attachment lugs to the reverse. 165 grams, 10 cm



From the collection of Adolphe Stoclet, 1871-1949.

The buckle plate is large and impressive, while the loop is somewhat narrower and may have been replaced. Cruciform motifs on the buckle plate are a feature of Visigothic belt-sets at this time. The use of malachite is unusual for this period, but semi-precious stones of various types appear on such plates (e.g. Menghin, IX.1.1).