Ancient Art, Antiquities, Books, Natural History & Coins

Penannular hoop with applied collars, applied discoid plaque with beaded rim and openwork cross to the centre, lateral granule clusters, facetted garnet bead below. 6.53 grams, 44 mm



Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s.

Representing the Vladimir Mother of God with the Divine Child; the half-length figure Mary with covered head turned right and with her left hand raised; holding the embracing infant Jesus in her right hand; above them inscription in Greek letters 'ΜΡ ΘΥ' (Mother of God); flanking the central icon and beneath it the images of the Saints Peter, Paul, Peter of Moscow and John Chrysostomos, Saint Gregory and Saint Dimitri; in the foreground the city of Vladimir. 96 grams, 60 mm



Acquired from Chris Martin-Zakheim, Iconastas, 5 Piccadilly Arcade, London SW1. From the private collection of a West London, UK, gentleman, formed since the early 2000s.

The original icon prototype of these smaller icons was the icon of the Virgin Mother of Vladimir with the infant Jesus (the original preserved in the Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow), probably the most famous icon of Russia, which was thought to have been created in Constantinople in the early part of 1100s. This image is sometimes referred to as the ‘tenderness icon’, with artists attempting to show the close relationship of mother and son with their cheeks touching as they embrace.

Comprising a flat-section hoop with expanding openwork shoulders set with turquoise-coloured glass cabochons, a raised bezel with piecrust edge, and an oval red glass cabochon. 8.41 grams, 30.94 mm overall, 19.96 mm internal diameter (approximate size British T 1/2, USA 9 3/4, Europe 21.89, Japan 21)



Prior English collection of Mr A.H.D. Property of a West Northamptonshire, UK, gentleman. Accompanied by an Ancient Art certificate of authenticity.

With blue, yellow, white and green enamel, representing the Anastasis (Resurrection of Christ); the Saviour represented on two registers, in the upper one (Resurrection) emerging from the grave, surrounded by the hesychastic light, with the Roman soldiers falling asleep, and the apostles and a cherub beside him; in the lower register (Descent into Hades) Christ surrounded by the same divine light, leading the people from the Limbo, Adam and Eve, King David and Salomon and other souls to heaven; the frame decorated with gilt arabesques on blue enamel, inscriptions in Old Slavonic at the top. 200 grams, 11 cm



Acquired from Chris Martin-Zakheim, Iconastas, 5 Piccadilly Arcade, London SW1. From the private collection of a West London, UK, gentleman, formed since the early 2000s.

The iconography is typical of the Anastasis or Resurrection of Christ, with the gates of Hades broken under the feet of Christ, echoing the phrase: 'Christ is Risen From the Dead, Trampling Down Death by Death, and Upon Those in the Tombs Bestowing Life!'

Flat-section hoop with openwork shoulders decorated with granules, large oval agate cabochon. 9.96 grams, 30.90 mm overall, 19.66 mm internal diameter (approximate size British U, USA 10, Europe 22.52, Japan 21)



Prior English collection of Mr A.H.D. Property of a West Northamptonshire, UK, gentleman. Accompanied by an Ancient Art certificate of authenticity.

Rectangular wooden panel with chamfered border, gesso and gilt surface; painted image of a standing nimbate figure, bare-headed and wearing a cuirass and red cloak, with curved rectangular shield and drawn sword; legend: 'OAΓι ΓΕωΡΓιοC' (Saint George); 'COPY 40 TAM 2' to verso and label with details in Greek, English and French 'No.1903b Byzantine Museum. "St George" 15th cent.' 1.79 kg, 52.5 x 30.2 cm



From the private collection of John Meredith, acquired since the 1990s; thence by descent.

A rectangular plaque with four rows and seven columns of various marble and imperial porphyry specimens, from the Grand Tour. 2.81 kg, 26.5 x 18 cm



Acquired at Shepton Mallet Fair, Somerset, UK, in 2010. From the private collection of a Somerset gentleman.

Keeled hoop with foliate motifs on the shoulders, raised bezel set with an agate. 8.88 grams, 37.80 mm overall, 18.21 mm internal diameter (approximate size British O, USA 7, Europe 14.98, Japan 14)



Acquired from bid2antique, Bangkok, Thailand, on 8th May 2008. Property of a West Northamptonshire, UK, gentleman.

Comprising: sky-blue enamelled type with reserved terrier 'Blue Cross Junior Branch'; white roundel with reserved stag and tree, dark blue outer with legend 'O.D.F.L Juvenile Branch'. 11.4 grams total, 24.1-25.5 mm



Property of a Cambridgeshire, UK, gentleman.

Bifacial pendant depicting a standing male in profile wearing a morning suit and hat; hinged tab beneath the foot acts as a lever which extends his hand and phallus. 4.40 grams, 38 mm



Found East Sussex, UK.

A monocular microscope with a mechanical stage, a box containing glass slides, and other accessories, housed in a mahogany case with a handle. 2.41 kg total, 28 x 17.5 x 14.3 cm



From the vendor's grandfather, thence by descent.

Representing Saint Nicholas of Mira, with a Gospel in his left hand and making the gesture of blessing with his right, dressed as a bishop, with sticharion, covered by omophorion, and surmounted by an epitrachelion, all embroidered with crosses; the saint flanked by Jesus and Virgin Mary, Christ holding the Gospel, Mary the bishop’s epitrachelion; Cyrillic inscriptions 'Saint Nikolaos the Wonderworker (СВЯТЫЙ НИКОЛА ЧУДОТВОРЕЦ), Iesus Christos (ΙΣ ΧC) and Mother of God (ΜΡ ΘΥ)' on the enamelled background. 341 grams, 12.1 cm



Acquired from Chris Martin-Zakheim, Iconastas, 5 Piccadilly Arcade, London SW1. From the private collection of a West London, UK, gentleman, formed since the early 2000s.

The icon features meticulous craftsmanship typical of Orthodox iconography. The enamel colors, despite the passage of time, retain their vibrant intensity, highlighting the key elements of the depicted images. The refined details and use of enamel give depth and luminosity to the icon, making it a precious example of the Russian Orthodox tradition.