Ancient Art, Antiquities, Books, Natural History & Coins

Crescentic bifacial pendant with winged putti on each side with traces of original polychrome enamel on the wings, five loops on the underside and a decorated suspension loop above. 2.78 grams, 27 mm



From a Cambridgeshire, UK, collection, 1990s.

Of facetted deep blue glass, enclosed within an elegant silver filigree cage mount retaining traces of its original gilding; the domed screw-cap similarly decorated with scrolling filigree ornament and fitted with a suspension loop, indicating that it was intended to be worn on a chain or ribbon, with an original clear glass stopper. 4.62 grams, 28 mm



Acquired on the European art market.

Delicate in scale yet refined in execution, the bottle is a characteristic example of late 17th-century English personal luxury wares.

Hinged pendant decorated in blue, yellow and red enamel with silver floral decoration, one side with a silver profile of the Virgin, and the other side with the profile of Christ; inside decorated with light blue enamel; possibly used to carry a relic or the host as a portable pyx. 29.8 grams, 67 mm



Acquired on the European art market. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13405-257980.

Devotional prayer bead featuring a grimacing skull on one side and the other with the face of Jesus wearing the crown of thorns; set in a simple gold frame with suspension loop. 13.31 grams, 39 mm



Acquired on the European art market.

Formed as a hand showing figa gesture, silver mount with applied twisted wires; attachment loop and ring to the top. 19.6 grams, 56 mm



Private collection, Europe. Acquired on the English art market.

Mano Fico, as protective amulets, have been used since antiquity. It was believed to protect from the evil eye and other dark and magical forces and to promote fertility. In ancient Rome, the fig sign, or mano fico, was made by the pater familias (father of the family) to ward off the evil spirits of the dead as a part of the Lemuria ritual. The ancient Greeks wore amulets of the gesture around the neck to protect from the evil eye, and also used the gesture in artwork. What they considered an overtly sexual gesture was expected to distract evil spirits from causing harm. The pendant would have been worn from a belt or from a chatelaine containing other protective talismans. This carving would have served as a token representing a person's pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, one of the very few places in which jet can be found and mined since at least the Middle Ages.