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LOT 0378
Ethiopian Painted Parchment of Two Evangelist Portraits from a Gospel
CIRCA 1650-1700 A.D.
8 7/8 x 7 3/4 in. (19 grams total, 22.5 x 19.8 cm each).
Two leaves from a vellum manuscript, each with a hand-coloured image of a male figure (Evangelists) seated on low stools, covered with embroidered cloths, holding a vellum page in one hand and quill in the other, nimbus around their head; dressed in blue, red and green garments, in front of them two cups in brown and white colour. [2, No Reserve]
ProvenanceEx central London gallery.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
Cf. image of Evangelist on a vellum page from Ethiopian Gospel Book, ex Gunda Gunda Monastery, 16th century A.D., Ethiopia, in The Walters Art Museum, accession no. W.850.153V.
FootnotesDuring the Aksumite period, the Greek text of the Gospels was brought to Ethiopia and translated into Geez. Along with the Greek text came a standard method of Gospel manuscript production, as well as the Eusebian canon tables with their characteristic decoration and tholos miniature, and portraits of the evangelists. In the Gondar period, the tradition continued: usually the four Evangelists were portrayed as a series. Evangelist portraits serve as an introduction, and narrative illustrations were placed within the Gospel texts.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0378
Ethiopian Painted Parchment of Two Evangelist Portraits from a Gospel
Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,235
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Greek Gold Thread Needle Point with Mary and Jesus in Silver with Inscription to the Archbishop of Jerusalem
Dated 1698 A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £520
Depicting Mary holding a lily flower with her right hand and supporting infant Jesus with her left arm; Jesus crowned by a crossed diadem and holding a gospel in his hand; background in gold thread, framed in a circular silver frame with dedicatory inscription to the reverse from a certain Alexander to the Jerusalem’s Archbishop Dositheus, reciting: + Τω ΜΑΚΑΡΙΟΤΑΤω ΚΑΙ CΟΦωΤΑΤω ΠΑΤΡΙΑΡΧΗ ΙΕΡΟCΟΛΥΜωΝ ΔΟCΙΘΕω ΤΙΜΗC ΕΝΕΚΕΝ – μηνι cεπτεμβριω 1698 – Αλεξανδρος – To His Beatitude and Enlighted Patriarch of Jerusalem Dositheus, as a sign of respect – September 1698 – Alexander; internal padding with floral decoration. 82 grams, 10 cm
Property of a London, UK, gentleman collector. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
The art of gold embroidery developed in Constantinople, with its own guild, and continued also after the end of the empire. Important artists like the legendary Despoineta, Mariora, Eusebia and Kokona, were famous in the 'painterly' rendering of religious subjects, not with the brush, but with the needle: red satin, and silver and gold wire created dresses, shadows, volumes with a sense of depth and sculptural quality. The artists conceived their works like a true prayer: a hope, based on human creativity. -
Georgian Silver 'Love Always' Posy Ring Decorated with Hearts
18th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £338
Comprising a flat-section hoop with stamped foliate hearts to the outer face, the inner face inscribed in Latin 'SEMPER AMEMVS' for 'Love Always'. 2.90 grams, 20.90 mm overall, 18.81 mm internal diameter (approximate size British P 1/2, USA 7 3/4, Europe 16.86, Japan 16)
Ex private collection, 1970s. Property of a Nottinghamshire gentleman. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato. -
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Bactrian Style Lapis Lazuli Bead Necklace String
20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £78
With tabular and annular lapis lazuli beads, gilt beaded collars. 47 grams, 65 cm long
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
