TimeLine Auctions
Antiquities - Christian Artefacts
556 Medieval Bone Smoother with Carved Head of Christ Circa 14th-15th century AD. A bone parchment smoother carved with a crowned head of Christ at one end, the face with discoid eyes, trapezoidal nose, ovoid mouth and collar-length hair; two holes to the reverse for attachment. Bone, 34 grams, 14 cm. Very fine condition. Very rare. £150 - 250 EUR 170 - 280 USD 250 - 420 From an important collection of Christian artefacts formed in the 1970’s and 1980’s; the property of a City Gentleman; found on the Thames foreshore, London.
557 Medieval Bone Parchment Scraper and Folder Circa 14th-15th century AD. A smoothing tool formed from a cut mammalian leg bone, the joint end double bevelled to provide the working edges, the shaft smoothed and highly polished from use. Bone, 185 grams, 13 cm. Very fine condition. Very rare. £100 - 150 EUR 110 - 170 USD 170 - 250 From an important collection of Christian artefacts formed in the 1970’s and 1980’s; the property of a City Gentleman. Parchment and vellum required treatment and smoothing before use, especially when old sheets were cleaned for re-use. Any rough areas would cause the inks used to spread through the fibres, resulting in irregular lettering. Smoothers of this type were an essential tool in any scriptorium and the straight edge would also serve for creasing folds.
558 Medieval Leather Bible Bag Circa 14th-15th century AD. A leather composite bible bag or pouch with a plain incised cross (cleaned to show detail) and traces of cut dart decoration to the front panel; with inverted and sewn seams, a leather thong drawstring and a leather strap suspender for securing to a belt. Leather, 200 grams, 18 cm. Very fine and complete condition; extremely rare and conserved by the (then) Guildhall Museum, London, prior to 1976. £400 - 600 EUR 450 - 670 USD 670 - 1,000
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From an important collection of Christian artefacts formed in the 1970’s and 1980’s; the property of a City Gentleman. Found on the Thames foreshore near London Bridge, in the early 1970s.
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