Ancient Art, Antiquities, Books, Natural History & Coins

Hand-bound vellum gathering with cotton cords; approximately 60 leaves, each with thirteen lines of Ge'ez script to both faces in black ink with red punctuation and emphasis; inked knotwork panel, guilloche and other decorations; thin red leather cover on hide boards with punched cruciform pattern to outer faces, lattice to inner faces; spine separated from gathering, some wormholes. 134 grams, 10.1 x 7.3 cm



From an English private collection, 1980s. Property of a London, UK, antiquarian.

Saint George on horseback, dispatching the dragon with a spear; the saint dressed in lamellar Roman cuirass and seated on a high-ended saddle secured by breast, rump, and belly straps; Old Slavic inscription on the top, reciting Saint George (Свято́й Гео́ргий ). 90 grams, 65 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.

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 praetorian 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.

With blue enamel and framed by a raised border; Saint Julitta and her son, Cyricus, Saint Gregory the Theologian and Saint John the Chrysostom standing beside them at the centre; three half-length figures above: St. Paraskeva (right), Eudokia, and Barbara (left); OCS inscriptions identifying the saints framing the scene; on the top a deesis, with Christ Pantokrator at the centre, flanked by Saint Mary and Saint John the Precursor; at the top left corner Archangel Michael, on the top right corner the Archangel Gabriel; beneath Saint Gabriel, in vertical order, Saint Paul, Saint Gregory the Theologian, Saint Nicholas of Myra, Saint Demetrios; beneath Saint Michael, in vertical order, Saint Peter, Saint Basil the Great, Saint John Chrysostomos and Saint George; in the last row, nearby Saint Andrew, at the centre, the Archangel Raphael, with sword and cross. 360 grams, 14 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.

This icon was intended for private devotion, often carried by pilgrims and Orthodox believers for spiritual protection. St. Julyttas and her son Cyricus (Ки́рик и Иули́тта), among the most venerated figures in Russian tradition, are depicted in the centre, surrounded by other saints, a symbol of the communion of the righteous in front of the Divine Deesis.

A folding diptych with suspension loops, the outer faces with an Orthodox cross and a robed figure holding a long staff; the inner faces with a similar robed figure on the left and Mary holding the infant Jesus on the right. 14.73 grams, 55 mm



From a retired Lincolnshire, UK, gentleman's collection, a long-time member of the Pewter Society.

Composed of large coin-shaped feature beads interspersed with cylindrical beads; restrung. 37 grams, 33 cm



Ex London, UK, art market 1990s.

Comprising: two castings from moulds taken from a medieval seal, possibly of Edward I, set in plaster in a wooden frame: the smaller with a facing mask in a boat surmounted by a cross, the larger with a seated figure holding orb and sceptre within a lancet arch with a heater shield below. 165 grams total, 34-79 mm



From the collection of a West London, UK, collector.

D-section hoop with the bezel formed as clasped hands. 2.39 grams, 19.63 mm overall, 16.40 mm internal diameter (approximate size British K, USA 5 1/4, Europe 9.95, Japan 9)



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.

With tendrils below the rim and quatrefoil panels with seated figures. 195 grams, 11.9 cm wide



Acquired by the vendor's father on the UK art market before 1990. Acquired on the UK art market.

Comprising a painted board with mounting panel and slots to the reverse, gessoed surface with painting of St John the Baptist standing nimbate with wings spread behind him, left hand supporting a bowl containing his severed head and holding an unfurled scroll with Cyrillic text 'Repent ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand,' (Matthew 3:2); right hand raised in blessing; landscape with sand-dunes and trees; gilded title above; the upper border with gilt Slavonic inscription reading 'Holy John the Forerunner'; from the Palekh Icon School, probably made in Mstera circa 1890. 1.02 kg, 31 cm high

Fine condition.

Ex property of a London lady, part of her family's collection. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate no.11546-196366.

The Palekh icon school emerged in the 17th century, inspired by the Moscow and Suzdal traditions of icon painting. Although preserving many features of traditional Russian iconography, the school created its own style that remained active into the 18th century. The hallmarks of the school include the frequent use of gold on the clothes of the saints and a rich palette. Bodies are shown as tall and slender and abrupt transitions between light and shadow are distinctive features of Palekh icons. The wings of Saint John derive from the double meaning of the Greek word used to describe him in Mark 1:2 - Angelos, meaning both messenger and angel. John is often called a 'Heavenly Man' and 'Earthly Angel' in Orthodoxy. At his feet is shown a small tree with an axe cutting into it, illustrating Luke 3:9, 'And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the tree...'

With facetted, D-section shank, disc bezel with low-relief chi-rho Christogram. 14.17 grams, 26.69 mm overall, 20.08 x 20.77 mm internal diameter (approximate size British U 1/2, USA 10 1/4, Europe 23.15, Japan 22)



From an important artefact collection, North London, UK.

Comprising a narrow triangular blade with ricasso; cup with band of foliage ornament below the everted rim; slightly S-curved quillons with finger-ring; barrel grip with ribbed pommel. 1.09 kg, 105 cm



From a private Tyneside collection, formed since the early 2000s.

With D-section body and S-curved coils, head raised and mouth gaping to reveal a forked tongue; repaired. 456 grams, 18 cm



Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016.