Heavy Roman Style Gold Ring with Gemstone

Executed in oil and tempera with painted image of nimbate Mary embracing the nimbate infant Jesus; head of Mary with gilded nimbus and russet-coloured veil; the Virgin is shown in half length, wearing a red-gold fringed maphorion with elaborate golden saltires on the shoulders, over a dark blue robe, visible only on the gold embroidered cuffs; the child touching his mother's chin, holding a furled scroll in his left hand and dressed in blue tunic and wrapped in a gold-orange shawl; on upper left of the Virgin’s head Greek inscriptions 'ΜΡ ΘΥ' (Μήτηρ (τοῦ) Θεοῦ = Mother of God) and beside the Divine Child inscription in Greek letters 'ΙϹ ΧϹ' (ΙΗϹΟΥϹ ΧΡΙϹΤΟϹ = Jesus Christ); inside the nimbus of Christ three letters (only two visible) representing the continuous divine self-existence of Christ as God (O ѾN = The Only One who always exists); rectangular wooden board with mounting slots and bar to reverse. 1.78 kg, 45 x 35.5 cm



Acquired on the UK 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 search certificate number no.12928-246333.

This splendid specimen comes most probably from an ancient private aristocratic Russian household. It has a superb quality and consists in a refined representation of the Mother of God known as Eleousa (Umilyenie in Russian), in which the Virgin tenderly embraces the Christ Child. Characterised by an affectionate embrace of Mary and the Christ Child, the image combines the themes of maternal love and the Passion of Christ.

With a host of Grand Tour marble, porphyry and other specimens set into a circular marble 'table top' in the late 19th-early 20th century; with black band border similar to items from the workshop of Francesco Sibilio; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 14.3 kg total, 46.5 cm including stand



Acquired from Diana Steel just before the end of 1999 in Suffolk, UK. From the private collection of a Somerset gentleman.

Substantial hoop with overlapping finials, large discoid bezel with low-relief image of a prancing horse, modelled after depictions on ancient Greek coins from the city of Maroneia in Thrace. 9.21 grams, 23.72 mm overall, 20.73 mm internal diameter (approximate size British U, USA 10, Europe 22.52, Japan 21)



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.