Lapis Lazuli and Other Bead Group

A bronze aquamanile portraying a mounted rider, both horse and rider modelled in the round with semi-naturalistic anatomical and facial features; the horse standing facing forwards, ears pinned back and with short tail; the male figure positioned with one hand on the reins, the other raised to eye level, wearing period costume and boots; rectangular vessel mouth behind horse's forelock with remains of hinge for a lid (absent), conical pouring spout to its lower chest; some splits; modelled on c.15th century German examples. 5.6 kg, 30.5 cm high



Acquired from St Marys Convent, Peekshill, New York. From Emily Gagnon, Dallas, USA. UK private collection, 2002. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11686-197726

The practical function of the aquamanile was to pour clean water over the hands before dining, and in religious contexts to symbolically purify the body before undertaking communion. The origins of the form are often traced to the area of Iran, and it reached Western Europe through contacts with the Byzantine Empire.

A copper-alloy copy of the original Greek bronze Diskobolos of Myron, portraying a youthful nude male athlete poised to spin to release his discus; naturalistically modelled; on a tiered octagonal stone display base. 27 kg, 65 cm high



French collection, 1960s-early 2000s. From an important Paris gallery, France. with Hampel Fine Art Auctions GmbH & Co KG, Munich, Germany, 12 December 2014, lot 1912.

The original Greek bronze (now lost) dated to circa 460–450 B.C., but the work is known through numerous Roman copies in marble.

A translucent, colourless glass finger ring composed of a D-section hoop, expanding at the shoulders to an oval bezel, displaying an encapsulated gold foil cross with expanding arms. 9.73 grams, 29.44 mm overall, 18.16 mm internal diameter (approximate size British P, USA 7 1/2, Europe 16.23, Japan 15)



Acquired 1969-1999. London collection of the late Mr S.M., thence by descent.