African Glass Trade Beads

Featuring a finely carved sardonyx cameo illustrating the Nativity, with the Virgin Mary extending the Christ Child toward the three Magi bearing gifts, while Joseph stands beside her; the family shown emerging from an arched doorway, beneath the Star of Bethlehem; set in a 19th-century high-carat gold mount, probably English in origin. 4.62 grams, 21.88 mm overall, 18.25 mm internal diameter (approximate size British Q, USA 8, Europe 17.49, Japan 16)



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.13334-258013.

The scene is staged horizontally, with the Holy Family at one end and the Magi and their entourage proceeding towards it, essentially unfolding in the foreground in a sort of procession, one behind the other. This was the standard image, although in the Italian School of Renaissance the same scene was often modified according to the vision of Botticelli, who put at the centre the Holy Family.

Card slipcase with printed engraving of an urn amid rustic ruins with legend 'Vedute di Roma disegnate ed incise da Giambattista Piranesi Architetto Vi Iano'; card-mounted prints comprising: church tower and square 'Roma La Chiesa di Santi Giovanni e Paolo / Disignato di Antonio Carbonati'and with handwritten dedication above 'To Mr. John Alexis Alexander With my best wishes, Rome 16.xii.1952 S[alvatore] Rebecchini, Mayor of Rome'; Trevi fountain with legend 'Veduta della Fontana di Trevi anticamente detta l'Acqua Veraine'; section of wall and tower with legend 'Veduta del lato posteriore del Mauseleo di Cecilia Metella....'; Colosseum with legend 'Veduta dell' Amfiteatro Flavio detto il Colosseo....'; prospect of the Vatican and foreground with egend 'Veduta dell'insigne Basilica Vaticana coll'ampio Portico e Piazza Adjacente...'; view of the fountain and monument in the Piaza navona with legend 'Veduta di Piazza navonasopre le rovine del Circo Aganate'; ruined temple with legend 'Veduta del Tempio detto della Concordia'; Arch of Constantine with legend 'Veduta dell'Arco di Costantino'; interior of St.Peter's basilca with legend 'Veduta interna della Basilica di S.Petro in Vaticano'; church of Santa maria with legend 'Veduta della Facciata di dietro della Basilica di S. Maria Maggiore'; bridge and castle with legend 'Veduta del Ponte e Castello Sant'Angelo'. 710 grams total, 49.5 x 35 cm



Acquired on the UK art market. Property of a Harwich, UK, collector.

Featuring a slender hoop with black-enamelled shoulders, a hexagonal collet setting with point-cut quartz with foil backing, and black-enamelled decoration beneath the setting. 2.91 grams, 26.70 mm overall, 18.36 x 17.64 mm internal diameter (approximate size British Q 1/2, USA 8 1/4, Europe 18.12, Japan 17)



Acquired on the European art market.