ARTEFACTS
"A truly exceptional and high-status find from the Viking Age, dating to the 10th or 11th century. This beautifully preserved copper-alloy stirrup mount features intricate, openwork decoration characteristic of late Viking or Anglo-Scandinavian design. These specialized mounts were securely fixed to the apex of a wooden stirrup, serving a dual purpose: strengthening the critical joint of the riding equipment while simultaneously displaying the immense wealth, rank, and warrior status of the horseman. Covered in a rich, dark patina, this piece is an absolutely thrilling tangible link to the fearsome equestrian culture of early medieval Britain."
"A fascinating and eclectic group of personal items, dress accessories, and domestic objects spanning the Medieval, Tudor, and Georgian eras. This exceptional assembly provides an intimate look into the daily life, attire, and leisure of people living centuries ago. Highlighting the display is a beautiful, highly detailed Georgian fob seal, used to stamp wax on personal letters, alongside a traditional jaw harp (or Jew's harp) musical instrument. They sit together with an ornate medieval purse bar hanger, a large decorative dress mount, practical strap ends, and utility buckles. Completed by historical tuning pegs and an early pocket knife, these objects offer a vivid snapshot of everyday fashion, music, and status across the ages."
An excellent and diverse group of lead spindle whorls, charting centuries of domestic textile production in the British countryside. Dating predominantly from the Roman, Medieval, and Tudor periods, these heavy weights were a vital component of everyday life, acting as flywheels on hand-held wooden spindles to maintain a smooth, steady spin while turning raw wool into yarn. This collection beautifully displays a variety of forms, ranging from simple, utilitarian bi-conical shapes to highly collectible examples featuring cast radial lines, ribs, and geometric patterns. They stand as a remarkable, tactile connection to the ancient, industrious cottage industries that once clothed the nation."
"A deeply poignant and highly personal time capsule discovering the lost everyday belongings of a young girl from the early 20th century. Found together as a single, heartbreaking 'purse drop,' this intimate assembly features the corroded, delicate remains of a metal chain-link purse frame. Inside lay her treasured wealth: a bright, high-grade George V silver threepence coin alongside worn copper pennies and halfpennies. Dating to the interwar period of the 1920s or 1930s, this pocketful of change represents a devastating childhood loss from decades past, offering a uniquely touching and human glimpse into ordinary daily life.
