Georgian Gold Ring with Diamond Cross in Oval Cluster

Domed profile with pierced eyes, nostrils and several small piercings for the mouth, decorative panels on the forehead and the lower part modelled as a mask covering the mouth with scroll motifs. 1.3 kg, 22.6 cm



From the family collection of a Hampstead gentleman; formerly acquired in the 1980s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Rectangular in plan, the lime green silk field with two large roundels of red silk tied by a tassel in the rococo style, signature of Sultan Mahmud II contained within a mosque lamp, ten smaller roundels of alternating cream, orange and cream silk; large central rectangular panel and two bands above incorporating inscriptions in Thuluth, tughra of the Sultan framed by swags in lower part of field, ground richly decorated with floral swags and vegetal motifs, backed. 17.8 kg, 294 x 179 cm



Acquired before 2000. Private collection, UK. with Bonhams, London, 6 October 2008, no.216 (est. £80,000 - £120,000). This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12741-235157. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

The inscriptions comprise: in two horizontal cartouches: Qur'an, surah al-Ahzab (XXXIII, verses 45-46) inscription contained in mosque lamp; the signature of Sultan Mahmud Il in the two large roundels: the Shahadah in the six roundels above central rectangular panel; the names of the four Orthodox Caliphs, and the Imams Hasan and Husain in the central panel; Quran, surah al-Baqarah (Il), verse 255, ayat al-Kursi in the six side panels; the names of the companions of the Prophet in the lower part; the tughra of Sultan Mahmud.

Bearing the bust of a bearded man dressed in elaborate Tudor clothing and wearing a wide-brimmed hat, Tudor rose on the breast band. 13.3 grams, 37 mm



Found New Sheriff Hutton Industrial Estate, Yorkshire, UK, in July 2006. From the private collection of Robin Sykes, Yorkshire, UK, formed since the late 1990s. Accompanied by an illustrated record card by Jim Halliday. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

This type of badge would have been attached to the lid of a purse; other examples were worn as brooches and pierced for attachment when the pin had broken off.