Byzantine Bronze Ring with Bird in Profile

Recalling workmanship similar to that found in the floor of the Sistine Chapel and other important Roman churches; comprising a central panel with design of alternating green and speckled porphyry lozenges, with interstitial green and porphyry squares flanked by green or blue rhombuses on each edge; the square central panel flanked by two green and porphyry roundels composed of panels with inset squares and triangles, with white dentilled edges over a green background; each roundel enclosed within a mosaic crosier, one filled with yellow rhombuses with dentilled edges composed of white, green and porphyry triangles; the other comprising two parallel rows of squares and rhombuses in porphyry, green and black stones. 41 kg, 80 x 36 cm

Rare, very good condition.

French gallery, Paris, 1990s. From a family 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 search certificate number no. 11921-209564.

A similar pattern to the current panel can be seen on the cosmatesques of the Grottaferrata Abbey, near Rome, variously dated between the 1160 and 1282 A.D., which can be a good chronological indicator for our mosaic for style and composition. The Cosmatesque style was a characteristic type of ornamentation of Eastern Roman origin (opus alexandrinum) in the technique of opus sectile (elements already cut with the final shape: circles, squares, triangles and lozenges; small geometric elements which, expertly fitted together, manage to create the effect of a magnificent embroidered carpet) used by marble-makers of the 12th and 13th centuries A.D. The practice of inlaying glass and stone tesserae into white marble panels in this way, although reaching its zenith under the directorship of the Cosmati, had already been established in the Eastern Roman Empire for at least five centuries, and by the 12th century many marble pavements and panels of Opus Alexandrinum had been used to decorate prestigious churches and religious foundations, both across Italy and further afield, often by reusing old Roman monuments.

Corner piece with polished face; an old handwritten label to the side reading 'Stone from "Ananiani's" house Damascus May 1861'. 182 grams, 82 mm



Found Damascus, Syria, in May 1861. UK private collection. Property of a Nottinghamshire gentleman. With a late 19th century handwritten identification label attached.

The Chapel of San Anania is a religious building located in a two-room crypt in Damascus, approximately four meters below the current street level, reachable by descending a staircase of twenty-three steps from the courtyard of a house that traditionally is attributed to Ananias, the Christian martyr who helped Saul (who became Paul the Apostle), baptised him and helped him hide and leave Damascus, after he had attracted the hatred of the Jews who had organised his killing. It is an apse of an Eastern Roman basilica from the 5th-6th century, cited several times by Arab historical sources such as al-Mussalabeh (of the Holy Cross), brought to light by the excavations carried out by the count Eustache de Lorey.

Group of two bronze lamps comprising: one with heart-shaped body, squat nozzle with recessed disc finial, hinged lid shaped as a scallop, basal disc with square hole to accept a stand, two curled arms at the rear forming the handle with thumb-pad formed as a perching bird; one slipper-shaped with ovoid nozzle, scooped conical lid with regular piercings, piriform basal ring, curved arm to the rear developing to a leaf-shaped reflector. 748 grams total, 10-14.5 cm



Collected from the 1950s-1980s by a distinguished university professor who served as Department Head, Dean and Vice President for a major university. Ex Emeritus collection, North America. Accompanied by a copy of a Spanish export licence.