Georgian Silver Hawking Whistle with Crest

Tempera on two wooden panels executed on a green ground; the upper part of the left panel showing the nimbate Theotokos (Mother of God) with veiled head and mantle, pointing the infant Jesus supported by her left hand, wearing a red-gold maphorion mantle over a dark blue robe with gold cuffs; the infant facing away to left, dressed in blue tunic, wrapped in a red orange shawl, right hand extended towards his mother in a blessing gesture; beside Mary inscriptions in red Greek letters 'ΜΡ' and 'ΘΥ' (Μήτηρ (τοῦ) Θεοῦ = Mother of God), and beside the child the Greek letters 'ΙϹ ΧϹ' (ΙΗϹΟΥϹ ΧΡΙϹΤΟϹ = Jesus Christ); in the lower part of the panel, God emerging as a half-bust from the sky, blessing the three theologians, Saint Basil of Caesarea, Saint John Chrysostom and Saint Gregory the Theologian, all dressed in ecclesiastic high garments, their names written in Greek beside their heads; the upper part of the right panel showing Christ Pantokrator, Lord of the Universe, the right hand in blessing gesture, the left hand holding a Gospel decorated with precious stones, wearing a blue chlamys and red sticharion embroidered with a gold clavus; in the lower part Saints Onuphrius, Saint Nicholas of Myra and Antony the Great of the Desert, the first naked and covered only by a leaf, the second in bishopric garments and the third in monastic garments, their names written in Greek beside their heads; all the haloes are in gold, the ones of Christ marked by a red cross. 3.6 kg, 49 x 55.5 cm (opened)



Acquired on the European art market. Private collection, London, UK. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12794-240887. 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 diptych is a synthesis of Orthodox belief: from one point of view, it shows the human nature of God, born from the Virgin; from the other the divine nature of Jesus Christ as the supreme Lord of the Universe. The icon skilfully depicts the subjects, with Mary pointing towards the infant Jesus, the faces rendered with dramatically emphasised features and dark tones.

Comprising a hefty hoop with scooped upper face, alternating applied skulls and crossed bones on the upper face decorated with white enamel, the eyes, noses and mouths of the skulls set with diamonds(?). 10.99 grams, 27.06 mm overall, 15.95 mm internal diameter (approximate size British K 1/2, USA 5 1/2, Europe 10.58, Japan 10)



Private collection of a North London lady before 2000. Property of a London, UK, gentleman. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12771-237884. 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 memento mori jewellery of the 16th and 17th centuries served as wearable ‘reminders of mortality’. Typical motifs within this genre included skulls, skeletons, crossbones, hourglasses, coffins, the gravedigger’s pick and shovel, and various other emblems of death and decay.

Including Southern Africa Solidarity Campaign 'Amandla', 'Down with all governments' and other types. 32.8 grams total, 31-55 mm



From the private collection of a S.W. London gentleman, acquired in the 1970s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.