Romantic French Medieval Vesica-Shaped 'Love Conquers Everything' Seal Matrix

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.

A bronze ring with slightly convex hoop, expanding at the shoulders to an oval bezel engraved with a stylised bird and a faux herringbone motif to the shoulders. 2.53 grams, 18.75 mm overall, 15.49 mm internal diameter (approximate size British I 1/2, USA 4 1/2, Europe 8.07, Japan 7)



Private collection formed since the 1940s. UK art market. Property of an Essex gentleman.

A silver chessman-type seal matrix with pierced lug finial above a pierced trefoil on a stepped bulb; central heraldic heater shield within a florid wreath; heraldic design of transverse hatched bars and reserved canton with a cinquefoil, blazoned 'argent two bars on a canton gules a cinquefoil', arms of the Preston family; blackletter legend to the border '* Sigillum : iohannis : prestone' (seal of John [of] Preston). 26.6 grams, 36 mm



The Matrix Collection, formed by David Morris since the late 1980s. Found in Bilton-in-Ainsty, West Yorkshire, UK, before 2 July 1997. with Sotheby's, 2 July 1997, lot 4. Matrix Collection catalogue no.0227. 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. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11652-198730.