Bronze Head of a Man

An icon of Hodegetria with the Virgin wearing a red maphorion embroidered with gold, a dark veil and a dark chiton with double gold embroidery on the cuffs; holding the Child on her left arm and gesturing towards him with the right hand; the Child wearing a yellow brown, gold-woven chiton, holding a scroll in his left hand, while the right one is making the gesture of blessing; the angels Michael and Gabriel to the left and right of the Virgin; on each side of the head of the Virgin inscriptions 'ΜΡ' and 'ΘΥ' (Μήτηρ (τοῦ) Θεοῦ = Mother of God), inscription in Greek letters 'IC XC' (IHCOYC XPICTOC = Jesus Christ) above the child, three letters inside the nimbus of Christ representing the continuous divine self-existence of Christ as God ('O ѾN' = The Only One who always exists); the names of the angles inscribed next to each figure (Aghios Michail and Aghios Gavriil). 869 grams, 29.8 x 24 cm



Property of a London lady, part of her family's collection.

The painting is a copy of the famous replica of the Hodegetria of Constantinople, a Byzantine icon of 14th century, repainted by the icon painter Dionisi in 1482, and today preserved in State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow. The original icon was destroyed by the Turks at the capture of Constantinople in 1453. The replica was venerated as an 'original' real Hodegetria in the Ascension Convent in Kremlin, Moscow. The icon led the liturgical processions on June 23, August 26, May 21 and October 22 in which the Patriarchs and the Russian Tsars took part.

A copper-alloy ring composed of a slender hoop supporting an octagonal bezel, set with a blue glass intaglio displaying an enigmatic, possibly pseudo-armorial design. 2.72 grams, 21.50 mm overall, 19.47 mm internal diameter (approximate size British N 1/2, USA 6 3/4, Europe 14.35, Japan 13)



Acquired 1990s. English private collection. Property of an Essex gentleman.

A marble torso from a once larger statue of the goddess Venus, modelled naturalistically, inspired by Praxiteles's nude Aphrodite from the Greek city-state of Knidos. 51.1 kg total, 64 cm high including stand



French collection, 1960s-early 2000s. From an important Paris gallery, France.

The original statue of nude Aphrodite (Venus) was created for the Temple of Aphrodite at Knidos as a devotion monument. It represented the nude Goddess as she proceeded for the ceremonial bath that regenerated her pureness, discreetly concealing herself with her hand and holding a cloth with her other hand. The monument is famous for its beauty, and it is intended to be seen from every aspect.