Byzantine Terracotta Slipper Oil Lamp with Head of a Goddess

With a sub-circular filling hole enclosed within a vegetal border, striated handle to the rear and cross motif to base. 59 grams, 91 mm



Acquired in the 1980s-1990s. Property of a Nottinghamshire gentleman.

Comprising an articulated strap, openwork finials with volute scrolls supporting the attachment loop. 17 grams, 87 mm



UK private collection. Acquired from York Antiques Centre, in 2001. Property of a Nottinghamshire gentleman.

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.