D-section hoop with expanding shoulders, trumpet-shaped bezel with two facing busts and a cross between and a nimbate bearded bust above, legend 'OMONOIA' (harmony) below. 9.62 grams, 23.93 mm overall, 18.92 mm internal diameter (approximate size British R 1/2, USA 8 3/4, Europe 19.38, Japan 18)



From an important Byzantine collection, formed in the 1970s, Surrey, UK. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13347-258734.

The marriage ring is one of the typologies in which figural decorations are frequently found. Generally speaking, marriage rings are engraved with a representation of a husband and wife, sometimes accompanied by Christ, and usually engraved with wishes for 'harmony, health and the grace of God'. Rings of this type had been used since the late 4th century A.D. and remained extremely popular in Byzantium in the 6th and 7th centuries.

Each a spherical cage with ropework texturing, a granule at each node; oval glass bead within. 13.8 grams, 22 mm each



Acquired on the Swiss art market, 1998. Private collection, Europe.

The openwork beads were prepared to be inserted in an earring of ‘Grapevine’ typology, III type of earring in the Niederle classification. Similar specimens, imported from Byzantium, were found in Tokaj (Hungary) and dated to the time of the Emperor Romanus Lekapenos (920-944 A.D.).

Formed of five hemispherical bosses, likely representing the five wounds of Christ, with a small raised boss at each junction; applied suspension loop. 3.41 grams, 35 mm



UK private collection before 2000. London collection, acquired on the UK art market.

Comprising an annular plaque with beaded wire frame to inner and outer edges, granule clusters to three cardinal points and a cruciform cluster to the centre; a suspension loop with cluster at the junction and beaded wire edges. 1.88 grams, 24 mm



From a North American gentleman's collection, 1990s.

Each a crescent plaque with beaded borders, sprung hook and catch; openwork foliage motif with two opposing birds. 5.75 grams total, 28-29 mm



Private collection, 1990s-early 2000s.

Enkolpion with hinged loop; obverse with low-relief nimbate Corpus Christi with arms extended laterally, inlaid silver detailing; reverse with robed figure in orans pose with silver detailing to nimbus and robe. 123 grams, 11.2 cm



From the private coin collection of a West London, UK, gentleman, formed since the mid 1980s.

With separate hinge and suspension loop; obverse with nimbate robed figure in a tondo with legend 'ΓΕΟΡΓ[Η]' (St George); reverse with robed and nimbate figure in orans pose with 'ICX' beneath each wrist, smaller nimbate figure before, legend 'MHP ΘV' (Mother of God). 82 grams, 10.8 cm



From the private collection of a West London, UK, gentleman, formed since the mid 1980s.

Featuring a large, shallow piriform bowl, stepped junction with a boar's head above, a hexagonal-section stem extending from behind the boar's neck bearing a Greek inscription 'TTETPOY' (of Peter); a balustered handle with a cuboid, striated finial. 60.77 grams, 21.5 cm



Acquired on the UK art market. Private collection, Surrey, UK.

The inscription suggests that the spoon may have had a liturgical purpose, associated with the Holy Communion. Still today in the Orthodox Church, the Body and Blood of Christ are dispensed with similar liturgical objects. The name Peter can be associated with the church, or simply with the owner of the liturgical artefact.

Plano-convex in section with low-relief carving: scene with a meal at a so-called sigma table surrounded by Christ, Peter, John and the other disciples; Christ and Peter attending and beardless Saint John the Evangelist preparing the fish. 9.95 grams, 32 mm



From a North American gentleman's collection, 1990s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13368-259040.

In early Byzantine art, Saint Peter is often depicted as the only figure apart from Christ to be shown with a nimbus, to emphasise his pre-eminent position as a church father and the 'rock' of the church.

Fragment from a plaque or large bowl with high-relief head and foreparts of a lion with broad piriform face and sunken eyes; rounded rim above. 246 grams, 96 mm



Ex Mr J.K. Maryland, USA. Private collection. Acquired in 1999.

From a technical point of view, the sculpture, in low relief, belonged to a ritual element with profile figures highlighted by an extremely delicate internal modelling, with space between the various decorative bands that admirably preserves the figure of the lion, giving it full value, according to an artistic principle also found in the seals of the Jemdet Nasr period (2800-2600 BC).

Long tablet with rows of densely arranged impressed cuneiform text on one side. 363 grams, 15.5 cm



Private collection, 1980s. UK private collection before 2000. Acquired on the UK art market. Private collection, London, UK. Academically researched and catalogued by the late Professor Lambert. Accompanied by an original handwritten slip written by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert.

The majority of a pillow-shaped tablet with impressed cuneiform text on three sides and a cylinder seal impression on the short face. 214 grams, 76 mm



Private collection, 1980s. UK private collection before 2000. Acquired on the UK art market. Private collection, London, UK. Academically researched and catalogued by the late Professor Lambert. Accompanied by an original handwritten slip written by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert.