Greek Style Tanagra Torso Statue

Group of two silver-coloured metal pomanders comprising: bat-shaped suspender with two short chains, openwork pomander with chained stopper, sun-wheel design flanked by flowers and robed female supporters; floral suspender with two short chains, openwork pomander with chained stopper, two fishes modelled in the half-round on a field of openwork scrolls, five chains below with rumbler-bell finials. 137 grams total, 15-16.5 cm



Property of a South West London gentleman.

Vellum leaf with pricked guidelines for placement of two columns of red-ink and black-ink text in Ge'ez script with red detailing; recto with two columns of text above a polychrome painted miniature showing a nimbate Mary beside a recumbent bearded figure among buildings with a winged angel above; verso with twenty-two lines of text in two columns. 89 grams, 35.5 x 30 cm



Previously in the David Buxton collection (1910-2003), until the late 1990s.

The scene should represent the miracle of the Virgin Mary to Damianus the scribe: Damianus wrote the name of the Virgin Mary with gold and silver instead of with common black ink. The Virgin Mary appeared to Damianus on his death bed and promises to write his name upon a pillar of gold in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Modelled in the round seated female figure in a long flowing robe, the limbs covered in the folds of the fabric; rectangular base, hollow to the underside, round void to the reverse. 247 grams, 14.5 cm



Ex Paris collection, early 20th century.