Gemstone Collection

A carved stone scene depicting a male and female putti pair seated on a globe, one figure holding a cornucopia; on a rectangular base. 17.6 kg, 40 cm high



English private collection.

A large bifacial wooden hand cross with engraved interlace borders and stylised flowers around crosses to one side, and blessing inscriptions in Ge'ez to the other framed by foliage; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 500 grams, 29 cm high (43 cm high including stand)



Acquired from Owen Hargreaves, 2003. UK private collection.

Ethiopian crosses, called in Amharic Maskal are divided into four main types: a) handcrosses, which can be large (22 to 53 cm) or small (14 to 21cm); b) processional crosses, usually measuring 22-60cm; c) pectoral or neck crosses, measuring 1-10cm; d) apex or architectural crosses, measuring 50-150cm. Our maskal belongs to the large hand cross category, probably of Havaria group, most common in the Shoa and Gojam provinces. The inscription reads from top to bottom: Sdar Alazar (name of locality) – Egzten nute mäsqäl (cross) on the left side, and Egzten Jesus (on the right side) followed by Adoneh Gavriil – Welde Hannah – Welde Michail. The cross invokes the blessing of God through the three Saints Hannah, Michael, Gabriel, who can be also the names related to the family of the priest who once owned the cross.

A marble interpretation of the famous 'Bathing Venus' (Pudica Venus) statue, modelled naturalistically in the round, nude, hair piled behind her head, holding her garment to her breast, standing on a composite discoid base imitating a stone pavement, with a casket at her feet; after Giambologna's Renaissance original; restored. 21.2 kg, 78 cm high

Old repair to neck.

French collection, 1960s-early 2000s. From an important Paris gallery, France.

The original 'Bathing Venus' statue in bronze has been attributed to Giambologna (Giovanni da Bologna) (1529-1608), and was probably created for King Henry IV of France as a diplomatic gift from Ferdinando I de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. This is a neoclassical interpretation of that Renaissance statue.