Byzantine Glass Cosmetic Bottle

Formed in the half-round as a youthful female bust, a cross in the middle of the high hair arrangement (propoloma). 193 grams, 97 mm



Ex Law Professor in Alexandria, prior to 1930. Ex collection M. Bouvier, Switzerland (1901-1980).

The image of the Roman Empress during the late Roman Empire, was connected to Christianity by the figure of the Empress Helena. Constantine had several cities renamed Helenopolis in honour of his mother, Helena, and she gained the political verification of power with the status nobilissima femina in 318 and the rank of Augusta in 324. Alongside her social and political image, Helena also had a significant reputation as a good Christian who was a patron and took care of poor people. Owing to this powerful religious image that was created, all other Christian women during the Eastern Roman Empire were encouraged spiritually by the fact that Helena was the mother of the first Christian emperor, and the image of the Roman empress was connected to the Christian image of the Mother of God, and represented on weights, bronze appliques and, in this case, maybe as an upper mount of a tripod.

Comprising three conoid seals, each engraved with a Greek cross and pierced for suspension; one with a wreath border, the other two with Syriac inscriptions and letters, possibly 'hš’ hy’' (the living passion); accompanied by a custom-made display case and impressions. 17.88 grams total, 15-21 mm



Important North West London 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 a search certificate number no. 11778-204567.

The collection concerns a group of seals of distinctive style and mainly conoid shape, realised (according to Spier) by a workshop in Muslim Mesopotamia of 7th century, soon after the Arab conquest. Nearly all the seals of this category are made of rock crystal, are usually pierced for suspension and engraved with distinctive form of cross. The crosses are positioned inside a linear, cable or (like in our case) wreathed border (sometimes also under a recessed arch). They could be uninscribed or inscribed with Syriac dialect (Aramaic) or Arabic in Kufic inscription (sometimes also in Pahlavi).

Restrung; composed of annular and biconvex carnelian beads, together with a bronze Christian cross with the Five Wounds of Christ represented as ring-and-dot ornament. 4.28 grams, 18 cm long



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.