Framed Watercolour Painting

With discoid bezel, incuse heart motif surrounded by scrolled foliage. 4.12 grams, 22.88 mm overall, 19.85 mm internal diameter (approximate size British S, USA 9, Europe 20, Japan 19)



Private collection formed since the 1940s. UK art market. Property of an Essex gentleman.

The heart motif and foliage surround suggest that this was intended to be a love token (Chadour, item 608) possibly of Italian origin.

Comprising two square panels bound together, painted cross motifs to the outside; left hand panels showing a polychrome scene of St George (Bet Gorgis) slaying the dragon and thus saving the princess shown on the left; the right panel showing winged St Tekle Haymanot in orans pose, right leg with a wooden prosthetic and the severed foot show on the ground, standing behind a bearded Saint (Saint Samuel of Waldebba?) in similar pose, wearing a flounced skirt with panther and lion heads, dove to the upper right hand corner. 426 grams, 21 x 21.5 cm



Ex Alistair McAlpine collection, 2004. Ex central London gallery.

According to Leroy, one of the first scholars who extensively studied Ethiopian paintings, the development in Ethiopian art from the middle of the 16th century to the middle of the 18th century followed only one style which emerged as the Gondarene style, named after the capital of the Ethiopian Kingdom, Gondar. Saint George is spearing the dragon with a cross-spear, of which 17th century originals are still visible in the Lalibela Museum. The anatomy of the horse recalls 17th century style, but the horse trappings with the second collar and the high cantle of the saddle are already visible in 15th century icons.

Biconvex in profile with discoid body, lateral spurs and saller D-shaped finial; after the antique. 86 grams, 84 mm



Collected from 1969-1999. From the collection of the late Mr S.M., London, UK.