Amlash Style Terracotta Bull Rhyton

Representing Saint Antipas 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; the Mandylion at the centre above the saint, Saint Mary on the left panel and Jesus on the right; Old Slavic inscription around the figures: 'ΙC ΧΡ' (Jesus Christ); 'ΜΡ ϴΥ'(Mother of God); Saint Antipas of Pergamum (Св Анти́па Перга́мский). 238 grams, 11.3 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. Saint Antipas was popularly held to be a healer of tooth problems. He was martyred by being burned in a brazen bull-shaped altar under the Emperor Nero or Domitian.

Comprising a segmented hoop with scroll-shaped shoulders, a hinged oval bezel with a secret compartment, and a bezel decorated with twelve cut diamonds around a central green stone intaglio of a winged Amor standing on a prora playing a diaulos. 5.82 grams, 23.60 mm overall, 16.50 mm internal diameter (approximate size British L 1/2, USA 6, Europe 11.87, Japan 11)



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

Composed of graduated spherical beads with a hatched design, restrung. 76.8 grams, 42 cm



Acquired in the 1990s-early 2000s. Ex London, UK, collection.