Egyptian Style Stone and Other Bead Necklace String

Cloison with incuse figure of Mercury standing with caduceus and marsupium; set into a later gold ring; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 4.63 grams, 24.38 mm overall, 18.99 mm internal diameter (approximate size British R 1/2, USA 8 3/4, Europe 19.38, Japan 18)



Private collection, Europe. Acquired on the English art market.

Rectangular panel with raised rim and low-relief image of Saint Nicholas holding a book, right hand raised in blessing gesture; flanked with saints. 63 grams, 62 mm



Ex Constable collection, 1990s. Ex P. Morris collection.

An imitation shrunken head modelled from leather with applied hair, moustache, eyebrows and eyelashes; pierced through the lips and ears; set in a later glass dome with base. 810 grams total, 20.5 cm including stand



Acquired Mellors & Kirk, circa 2019. Ian Wilkinson collection, Nottinghamshire, UK, formed since 1985.

The Victorian ‘freak show’ played a significant role in mid- and late-nineteenth century popular culture, enjoyed by everyone regardless of their class. Such shows, which often travelled the country, were presented to the public as entertaining and educational, offering the opportunity to learn about anatomy and the ‘realities’ of people from foreign lands. The real 'shrunken heads', known as tsantsas, were carefully preserved, severed human heads that were used by the Jivaroan people of the Amazon as war trophies, for ceremonial purposes, or to intimidate enemies.