Carved Citrine Bust of Homer in Gold Ring

Decorated to obverse with a vase abundant with flowers in a mountainous landscape, with reserved roundels containing the images of Saints Anthony of Padua, John the Baptist and Saint Dominic de Guzmán; reverse with another vase in a landscape emitting a rose garland supporting an image of the Virgin and Child in Majesty, amidst clouds and angels. 24 grams, 61 mm



Private collection, Europe. Acquired on the French art market. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13057-248398.

The pendant is decorated in the manner of Giuseppe Bruno who was an enameler from Messina, Sicily (active c.1652-82).

Depicting the martyrs freezing to death in a lake in Cappadocia, clad only in their undergarments (esophoria); Jesus above, dressed in gold and red, offering the crowns of martyrdom as a sign of reward; a tower to the side of the martyrs; Greek inscriptions: inside the gold nimbus 'O ѾN' (= The Only One who always exists), the inscription above the martyrs reading: 'Οι Άγιοι Τεσσαράκοντα Μάρτυρες = The Saint Holy 40 Martyrs'. 810 grams, 30 x 22.5 cm



Acquired on the European art market. Private collection, London, UK. 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.13063-249294.

The icon depicts the martyrdom of the 40 soldiers of the Legio XII Fulminata, who died in a frozen lake in Cappadocia in 320 AD. The drama experienced by these courageous men, nourished by their faith in Christ, is evocatively expressed. Their frozen bodies are painted in ochre and olive green, reflecting the stages of their agony. Christ is offering them crowns of glory from heaven as a sign of reward. The cult of the 40 Martyrs spread rapidly, first in Constantinople, where several churches were dedicated to them, then in the Balkans and Russia.

Depicting the Holy Trinity, represented by three winged figures, each with a three-prong staff, sitting on stools around a table with three cups, trees and the outline of a cathedral behind. 67.5 grams, 62 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.

The subject is based on the traditional Russian interpretation of Genesis,18, in which three figures appear to Abraham at the oak tree of Mamre. The central figure is usually identified as Jesus Christ, while God the Father is on the right and the Holy Spirit on the left. The subject of the icon originated from a very famous 15th century painting by Andrei Rublev.