Banded Agate Eye Gemstone Group

Hollow-formed with hexagonal-section arms, each with a raised collar bearing an incised legend 'ME DU CI TO CE LOS' and granule finial; granules between the arms; blackletter legend 'CLUNY' vertically and 'a vol duci' horizontally; suspension ring. 33.32 grams, 59 mm



Ex Cornish collection, UK. Property of a London, UK, antiquarian.

The Abbaye de Cluny is a site of pilgrimage, a former Benedictine monastery.

Depicted lying on a riverbed, leaning on his right side, his aged face framed by a rich, flowing beard, his wavy hair held back by a taenia; his body, naked and corpulent, is covered only by a light cloak wrapping his legs; his left hand is stretched forward, his right hand resting on a vase pouring water from the river; the figure stands out against a smooth, semicircular cut wall; mounted on an old collection marble base. 13 kg, 44.5 cm wide

With evidence of break along outer edges suggesting the fragment was once part of a larger composition or fountain. Areas of old glue remnants to the broken edge. The marble is stable, with age staining to the entire surface; minor chips throughout but generally in very good condition.

Previously in an old European collection, probably from the 18th/19th century, based on the old collection marble base and mounting technique. Private collection, France. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no. 13239-251810.

The representations of river or sea divinities usually depicted them in the same position, with naked torso wrapped only in a wide cloak, and usually bearded. The sculpture bears similarities with the sculpture of a river divinity, in the Archaeological Museum of Napoli (inv. 5977), from Rome and belonging to the Farnese Collection, from the second half of the 2nd century A.D.

Depicting Saint Zosima and Saint Sabbas in front of the Solovetsky Monastery, both nimbate and dressed in the Abbot’s garments, holding the model of the monastery offered to God, represented in the sky as a dove upon a cloud; arabesque frame; inscriptions in Old Slavonic with the names of the saints. 108 grams, 88 mm



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.

Saints Zosima and Sabbas or Sabbatius were highly venerated Orthodox saints, founders of the Solovetsky Monastery, a fortified monastery located in the White Sea in Northern Russia. This double portrait shows Zosima and Sabbas holding up a model of their religious institution, which resembles a small medieval city. Solovetsky Monastery obtained big investments from the city of Novgorod and established itself as one of the richest monasteries in Russia.