Glass Bead Necklace String Group

Tempera on wood with red and green frame, Saint Nicholas with a book in his left hand and making the gesture of blessing with his right, dressed as a bishop, with a green sticharion, covered by a red-pink omophorion, and surmounted by a white epitrachelion embroidered with black crosses; the saint flanked by Jesus and Virgin Mary, Christ holding the Gospel, Mary the bishop’s epitrachelion; Greek inscriptions 'Saint Nikolaos (O A[ΓΙΟΣ] ΝΙΚΟΛΑΟΣ), Iesus Christos (ΙΣ ΧΡ) and Mother of God (ΜΡ ΘΥ)' on the gilt background. 942 grams, 29.5 x 24.5 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.

Saint Nicholas lived in 4th century A.D. and was the bishop of Myra, in the Roman Asia Minor. Because of the many miracles attributed to his work, his cult was widespread in the Orthodox world and he is known as Nicholas the wonderworker. His reputation as a secret gift-giver (such as putting coins in the shoes of those who left them outside, or the dowry given to three maidens saving them from prostitution) created a model for Santa Claus. The veneration of the saint, who participated in the Council of Nicaea of 325 A.D., began very soon after his death.

Comprising: rectangular brown agate with profile bust, and impression from the same; ellipsoid sardonyx with intaglio Mercury standing; ellipsoid jasper with standing athlete; ellipsoid amethyst with profile bust. 5.9 grams total, 15-19 mm



From the collection of a London antiquarian, formed since the 1980s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

The bezel with a clasped hands motif with a heart at the centre and elaborate cuffs, narrow D-section hoop; inscribed to the inner face 'No treasure to a true friend' with a long S, worn maker's mark at the end of the inscription, appearing to have the letters 'IV' or IW' in Roman capitals within a simple escutcheon. 2.26 grams, 18.54 mm overall, 16.40 mm internal diameter (approximate size British L, USA 5 3/4, Europe 11.24, Japan 10)



Found near Burstow, Tanbridge, Surrey, UK, on Monday 1st May 2023; disclaimed with treasure reference 2023 T419. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme report no.SUR-OAA74B. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

If the maker's mark is 'IV' it may correspond to John Vickerman, a goldsmith active in London from 1768 to 1773. Alternatively, if the maker's mark is 'IW' it may correspond to a number of makers: John Williamson, 1650; John Ward, 1660; James Wilkes, 1722; or John White, 1724.