Georgian Bronze Bawdy Pipe Tamper

Representing the Protection of the Mother of God; the icon within inside a crested kokoshnik (bochka) with triple border; the crest depicting the Trinity, with God the Father and the Son sitting and facing each other across an orb and crucifix; a dove, symbolising the Holy Spirit, hovering above the crucifix; the Trinity inscribed inside a crown of flying angels, sitting at his feet the four living creatures, the Cherubins symbolising the Evangelists: the Lion, the Angel, the Eagle and the Ox; inscription in Old Slavonic beneath the crest, the Mother of God standing slightly left, looking toward God the Son in the upper corner; clouds at her feet and around the upper left corner; thirteen Saints and four Angels above them standing around her. 281 grams, 17.1 cm



Acquired from Chris Martin-Zakheim, Iconastas, 5 Piccadilly Arcade, London SW1. From the private collection of a West London, UK, gentleman, formed since the early 2000s.

The Icon of the Protection of the Mother of God, or Pokrov (in Old Slavonic), celebrates the Virgin Mary, depicting the Mother of God in prayer, wrapped in her mantle, surrounded by angels and saints. The image is a powerful symbol of protection and a reminder of Marian intercessory prayer, centered on protecting the Christian people from adversity and danger.

Comprising three framed compositions of plaster casts taken from medallions and intaglios showing classical scenes. 1.76 kg total, 29.7- 34.8 cm

Fine condition.

Private collection, UK.

Rectangular vellum fragment with painted architectural image to obverse with single caption; six lines of Ge'ez script to reverse. 7 grams, 29.9 cm



Collection of David Buxton (1910-2003), author of 'Travels in Ethiopia', 1949.