Egyptian Revival Terracotta Head

Hinged suspension loop, two recessed halves hollow to the reverse, low-relief figure in orans pose to the obverse, geometric ornament to the reverse. 126 grams, 10.5 cm



Acquired 1980-1990s. From the private collection of H.N., Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire, UK.

Usually the reliquary crosses or enkolpia, were composed of two separate halves, inside of which a relic of a saint was contained; this could have been a piece of cloth or a bone. The practice, in the Orthodox Church, is still in place today, sometimes by using reproductions of ancient styles, like our specimen, probably realised at the beginning of the last century.

Comprising four bricks with raised designs: scrolling vegetation; two monograms, one a merchant's mark, in roundels divided by an object with tiered base and billeted border; male and female facing busts within dot-dash border; worn crowned shield issuing flowering vegetation. 6.4 kg total, 13-14 cm



Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection.

These glazed stove or floor tiles are similar to the ones of the great hall and the Tudor kitchens at Hampton Court Palace, made of ceramic, with a glaze to make it hard-wearing and washable. Not just the furnishings, but the palaces themselves were multi-coloured, with brick walls painted red, and exposed timbers in yellow, red, green and white

Displaying different colour glazes and designs, mainly comprising geometric designs, wildlife, floral and vegetal motifs, figural vignettes and landscape scenes featuring a variety of buildings and windmills. 16 kg total, 10.5 x 13.5 - 13.5 x 13.5 cm



Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection.