Bactrian Style Lapis Lazuli Bead Necklace

A bronze figure of a satyr standing on a hexagonal base wearing a goatskin mantle tied by the forelegs around his shoulders, with poppy seed-heads and bunches of grapes by the left arm; in his raised right hand, a bunch of grapes and in his left hand a cudgel; stump of a tree by his right leg and barrel beside his left, with a lamb to the rear placing its foreleg on top; modelled after the so-called Fauno Rosso from Hadrian's Villa, now in the Capitoline Museum. 18.5 kg, 67 cm high



From an important Paris gallery, France.

Half-man, half-beast, satyrs were believed to be the children of goats and mountain nymphs. Followers of the god Dionysus, they had a reputation for drunkenness and spent their days participating in orgiastic rituals. They represented the crude and boisterous facets of the stereotypical male persona, particularly of rural man.

A small icon from a Deesis, tempera on wood, depicting Mary on a gilt background inclining her head to the right, wearing a maphorion embroidered with gold stars, blue veil and a chiton of same colour; the reverse with a painted red cross with Greek lettering 'IC XI N K' for 'Jesus Christ is winner'. 554 grams, 20.2 x 16.5 cm

Gilding minimally worn, the border minimally restored; very fine condition.

Property of a London lady, part of her family's collection. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by searcher certificate no.11571-198600.

This splendid specimen comes most probably from a large icon, where it was part of a Deesis. The image implies that the original icon represented Christ flanked by the Mother of God and John the Baptist, all three usually represented as a full figure. The Deisis or Deesis (Деисус, Gk. for “supplication”) was the depiction of the Virgin, John the Baptist and possibly many more saints interceding with Christ on behalf of mankind.

A free-standing Grand Tour statuette of the goddess Demeter, carved from brilliant blue lapis lazuli; modelled in the round standing on an integral polygonal base, wearing a floor-length peplos and mantle, holding a cornucopia. 14.4 grams, 55 mm

Fine condition, right arm lost in antiquity.

Private UK collection. Property of a Cambridgeshire gentleman.