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Byzantine Lead Icon with St George
Circa 7th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,404
Bifacial lead plaque with figurative decoration: obverse with Saint George, nimbate, on his horse killing a fallen foe with his spear; 'ΓΕΟΡΓ' label above the horse's neck, raised border with pellets and pellet clusters; reverse with relief pattern of a double circle decorated with double arcs forming a cross pellet to the centre. 48.8 grams, 64 mm
Private collection Mr S.A., Switzerland, before 1992, thence by descent.
According to the Christian tradition, Saint George would have lived between the end of the 3rd century and the beginning of the 4th century: born into a noble Christian family, he became an officer in the Roman army and was then named a prefect by Diocletian. But when the same emperor decided to resume the persecutions, Saint George became a victim despite his important political rank. His role in the development of the faith is so important that he is included among the Great Martyrs of the Eastern Church and his fight against the dragon becomes a symbol par excellence of the fight for Good which defeats Evil. In the Christian symbolism of the Middle Ages, the circle, a perfect geometric shape which has neither beginning nor end, designates the universe whose centre is the source and thus evokes Jesus. -
Romano-Parthian Bone Idol of a Female
Eastern Roman, 3rd century B.C.-2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £910
Depicting a female figure with elaborately tied hairstyle, semi-naturalistic facial and anatomical detailing and geometric detailing to the garment wrapped around her lower body; stub arms; copper-alloy rivets to the shoulders. 77 grams, 19 cm high
with a London, UK gallery, 1971-early 2000s. -
Late Roman Jewish Menorah Wine Stamp Seal
4th-6th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,940
With a rectangular body and loop handle, the underside with a Menorah on a tripod base, a shofar on the left, a lulav and a shovel to the right. 46.3 grams, 59 mm
From a private family collection formed since the early 19th century, thence by descent. Property of a New Zealand legal professional. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12324-223712.
According to Friedenberg and A. Reifenberg, unlike the Roman Christian counterparts, stamps such as the present example were likely used on the stoppers of wine amphorae rather than to stamp bread. They were used to seal the wine amphora to guarantee the purity of the wine as sanctioned by the Talmud. -
Roman Bronze Weight with Three Goddesses
1st-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,430
Square panel with three figures modelled in the half-round - Isis Fortuna with a rudder, Minerva with a spear, Nona with a drop-spindle; to the reverse, lozenge within a ring with enigmatic 'VIKΠΔ' legend (bungled, for 'LIBRA'?). 78.7 grams, 38 mm
From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s. -
Byzantine Cobalt Blue Lidded Pyxis
9th-12th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,820
With a barrel-shaped body, domed shoulder, everted neck, band of high-relief disc with fluting, crenellated base; conical lid with spike handle and applied rim. 58 grams, 92 mm
Acquired 1960s-1970s. From the estate of a Sheffield, UK, lady, thence by descent. -
Bactrian Black Stone Ritual Object
Circa 3rd-early 2nd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £5,460
Carved black marble disc with flat edge and biconical faces; mounted on a custom-made stand. 57.7 kg total, 58.5 cm including stand
with Gallery Rosen Ancient Art, Tel Aviv, 1969. Ex London, UK, gallery, 1971-early 2000s. London, UK, collection. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12403-225384. -
Bactrian Decorated Pillar Idol in Black Stone
Circa 2750-2334 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,900
Formed as a tapering column with flared base, shallow slot to the upper face, horizontal bands of scales and foliage. 2.69 kg, 19 cm
Ex London, UK, gallery, 1971-early 2000s. with Kallos Gallery, London, UK. -
Bactrian Lapis Lazuli Fish Beads
3rd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £468
Matched pair of beads, each a fish with triangular dorsal fin, carved scale and eye detailing, pierced longitudinally. 2.48 grams total, 20-21 mm
with Gallery Rosen Ancient Art, Tel Aviv, 1968. with a London, UK gallery, 1971-early 2000s. Accompanied by a copy of the original 1968 invoice. -
Bactrian Lapis Lazuli Pin Head with Figures
3rd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,950
Drum-shaped in profile with running guilloche to the rim, obverse with low-relief figure of a crouching woman with braided hair, one hand raised; reverse with similar image. 49.8 grams, 40 mm
with Gallery Rosen Ancient Art, Tel Aviv, 1968. with a London, UK gallery, 1971-early 2000s. Accompanied by a copy of the original 1968 invoice. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12406-225341. -
Bactrian Lapis Lazuli Pin Head with Figures
3rd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,600
Drum-shaped in profile with running guilloche to the rim, obverse with low-relief figure of a crouching man between addorsed gryphons; reverse with crouching anguiped between lion-heads and regardant birds. 43.6 grams, 50 mm
with Gallery Rosen Ancient Art, Tel Aviv, 1968. with a London, UK gallery, 1971-early 2000s. Accompanied by a copy of the original 1968 invoice. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12407-225342. -
Bactrian Lapis Lazuli Pin Head with Figures
3rd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,120
Drum-shaped in profile with running guilloche to the rim, obverse with low-relief figure of a regardant bird with bearded head of a man; reverse with regardant figure of a crouching lion with similar bearded head. 46.5 grams, 40 mm
with Gallery Rosen Ancient Art, Tel Aviv, 1968. with a London, UK gallery, 1971-early 2000s. Accompanied by a copy of the original 1968 invoice. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12408-225343. -
Anatolian Stone Stargazer Idol Head
3rd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,690
Plano-convex in section and discoid in profile with vertical rib nose and pellet eyes, lateral spurs or the ears; mounted on a custom-made stand. 108 grams total, 10.2 cm high including stand
Japanese private collection, 1988. Private collection, London.