Jewellery, Watches, Antiquities and Objects of Vertu

A Medieval pewter Viatica or Pyxes lid, circa 14th century, hexagonal and conical in shape, hinged with a pin to one side, each of the six tapered sides richly decorated with images of the Annunciation and the Adoration of the Magi; clockwise the compartments show: the Madonna and Child, Casper, Melchior, Balthasar, Archangel Gabriel holding a scroll reading ‘AVE GRA’, and the Virgin Mary with the lily pot; around the flattened rim is the inscription ‘AVE. MARIA. GRACIA. PLENA. DOMINUS. REX. CASPER. REX. MELCHIOR. REX. BALTASAR.’ - ‘Hail Mary, full of grace, the lord king Casper, Melchior and Balthasar’, to the raised centre a knop/finial of a seated hound with large ears and an upturned tail, width 68mm, height 60mm. £1,500-£1,800

From an old European collection.
The use of these hexagonal vessels has been an issue of debate for some time; the latest interpretation is that they were Viatica or containers for unconsecrated holy bread used when visiting the sick. The hound can be linked to Saint Roch, whose wounds were healed by a dog licking them. The theory that they were salt cellars seems unrealistic with the religious decoration.

Similar examples have been found in the River Thames 1846, (Smith 1848) and another from Turku in Finland, 1998.