Large Georgian Gold Wedding Ring

Comprising a disc flange with stem and lateral clip below, waisted base and horse-head modelled in the round with flying mane. 55 grams, 55 mm



From the collection of a Buckinghamshire, UK, collector established from the earlier 1960s.

With blue enamel and framed by a raised border; Saint Julitta and her son, Cyricus, Saint Gregory the Theologian and Saint John the Chrysostom standing beside them at the centre; three half-length figures above: St. Paraskeva (right), Eudokia, and Barbara (left); OCS inscriptions identifying the saints framing the scene; on the top a deesis, with Christ Pantokrator at the centre, flanked by Saint Mary and Saint John the Precursor; at the top left corner Archangel Michael, on the top right corner the Archangel Gabriel; beneath Saint Gabriel, in vertical order, Saint Paul, Saint Gregory the Theologian, Saint Nicholas of Myra, Saint Demetrios; beneath Saint Michael, in vertical order, Saint Peter, Saint Basil the Great, Saint John Chrysostomos and Saint George; in the last row, nearby Saint Andrew, at the centre, the Archangel Raphael, with sword and cross. 360 grams, 14 cm



Acquired from Chris Martin-Zakheim, Iconastas, 5 Piccadilly Arcade, London SW1. From the private collection of a West London, UK, gentleman, formed since the early 2000s.

This icon was intended for private devotion, often carried by pilgrims and Orthodox believers for spiritual protection. St. Julyttas and her son Cyricus (Ки́рик и Иули́тта), among the most venerated figures in Russian tradition, are depicted in the centre, surrounded by other saints, a symbol of the communion of the righteous in front of the Divine Deesis.

Painted on a wooden board with gessoed surface, tempera on wood panel with kovcheg (recessed central panel on the obverse) executed on a pale yellow ground; Boris and Gleb depicted on horseback wearing Russian 16th century Boyar costume, both with nimbus, each with a lance and pennant; on the right upper corner, God is represented as a half figure making a blessing gesture, inscription in Greek letters 'ΙϹ ΧϹ' (ΙΗϹΟΥϹ ΧΡΙϹΤΟϹ = Jesus Christ); rectangular wooden board with mounting slots to reverse. 1 kg, 32 x 26.5 cm

; good condition, losses to the borders, areas of retouching.

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.12927-246338.

Boris and Gleb, Princes of old Rus Nation, were the sons of Vladimir of Kiev, the first Christian Prince of Rus; according the history they were killed in 1015 and 1019 in the civil struggles for the succession to the Kiev’s throne, and sanctified for their faith. Standards with their image were worn by the medieval Russian army.