14th century AD or later. A sheet-silver casket and lid; the body with repoussé arcade and parcel-gilding depicting Abraham with sacrificial lamb, three robed patriarchs, agnus dei with free-standing cross to each end, underside scored; shallow lid with central panel of Christ enthroned flanked by standing nimbate figure to each end, two winged angels supporting a wreath with chi-rho christogram between rosettes to one side and similar with nimbate bust within the wreath to the other; hatched securing strips with incised text to one long edge '+ sanctus . apollinaris . episcopi . et . martiris' (Saint Apollinaris bishop and martyr), with later parcel-gilding. 1.3 kg, 33cm (13"). From a private collection of seals and amulets, the property of a Canadian gentleman living in London; from his father's collection formed in the late 1960s to 1980s. Apollinaris of Ravenna was a Syrian-born saint and bishop who was persecuted in his adopted city of Ravenna (under Vespasian or Septimius Severus?) and when trying to leave the city was unmasked and killed with a sword. His time as self-appointed bishop of Ravenna would have been at the end of the 2nd century AD. His historical reality is difficult to disentangle from the many legends which sprang up around his name.

Fine condition.