Bactrian Style Dish Fragment with Hellenistic Portraits

Comprising three domes decorated with filigree surrounding a central pellet, hook to the reverse; Read Class D, Type 6. 2.28 grams, 19 cm



Found Uttlesford, Essex, UK, declared as Treasure and disclaimed by the Crown with Treasure case tracking number: 2022T941. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.ESS-491A58. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

In late 15th century style, showing triumphant Jesus on the foreground, holding a flag and dressed in a brocade cloak, stigmata showing on his hands and feet; two guards on his side looking stunned, one wearing a full plate armour with a sallet and the other a leather corselet with a bascinet, third guard at the bottom of the panel looking terrified; an angel dressed in white robe, extending his arms towards Jesus; the opened tomb on the background and medieval Flemish inscription at the bottom reading 'DE VERISENIS VAN CHRISTUS’ (the Resurrection of Christ) in uncial letters; some restoration. 4.5 kg, 65 x 53.5 cm

Some restoration.

From a war-damaged church in Belgium. Ex property of a late Northumberland collector. From a private collection, Derbyshire, UK. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

The scene represents the Resurrection of Christ according to the Gospel of Matthew (28,2-4), as revealed by the presence of an angel moving away the stone, and of the soldiers. According to the Christian tradition, the bodily resurrection was the restoration to life of a body transformed and nourished by the spirit, as described by Paul and the Evangelists, which led to the affirmation of Christianity. In Christian theology, the Resurrection of Jesus is ‘the fundamental mystery of faith’, as recalled by Easter, together with the remaining Christological mystery (Incarnation, Passion and Death), and together with the Logia and the works of the ministry of Jesus. For Christians, the resurrection of Jesus is a guarantee that all the dead Christians will come back to life at the time of the parousia (second coming) of Christ.

Comprising: three decorative buttons; fob seal matrix with plain intaglio; a spherical white metal button; a red glass intaglio with profile bust set in a fragmentary swivel mount; a clear glass pendant with three oak leaves; a glass intaglio of a seated Lady Justice set in a bronze frame. 38.3 grams total, 16-26 mm



Property of a Cambridgeshire, UK, collector. From his private collection since the 1970s; thence by descent circa 2000. Ex private collection of a Bedfordshire gentleman. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.