A Rare 15th Century Carved and Polychrome Ceiling Boss

Carved in beautiful detail, the lamb, with tight curls of wool, lays on a book – possibly the Bible (the boss would certainly have originated from an ecclesiastical building), which in turn is surrounded by scrolling clouds.

To the reverse of the boss are eight clear rebates, each with a securing peg, where part of the ceiling structure would sit.

Provenance – the private collection of Samuel Wolsey, 1895-1980, and thence by family descent.