Gemstone Collection

Showing Christ Pantocrator (Lord of the Universe) making a blessing gesture with the right hand, dressed in red chiton and blue chlamys, the left hand holding the gospel with Cyrillic inscription from Matthew 11:28 Прiиди́те ко мнѣ́ вси́ труждáющiися и обременéн­нiи, и áзъ упокóю вы́, translating 'Come unto me, all who labour and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest'; inscriptions beside the Christ's head 'IC XC' for 'Jesus Christ' and Cyrillic inscription 'Господь Вседержитель'= 'Lord Almighty on both sides of His Body'. 1.08 kg, 36 x 27.5 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.

This fine Russian religious work depicts Christ Pantocrator, ‘Almighty’ or ‘All Powerful’. It is a compound word formed from the Greek words for ‘all’ and the noun ‘strength’ (kratos).

Comprising: girl with long hair crouching on a rock, cradling her knee, with stamped 'Bronze garanti Paris JB déposée' mark and signed 'Milo' to base, on a marble stand; youthful Roman lady in a lively pose with sweeping dress and mantle (unsigned). 2.36 kg total, 15.7-19.1 cm



Ian Wilkinson collection, Nottinghamshire, UK, formed since 1985. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Milo Martin, 1893-1970, was a Vaudois sculptor and medalist whose foundry stamp: “Bronze Guaranteed J.B. Paris” was chosen after a famous bronze brand from the 19th century.

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.