Large Tudor or Stuart Period Iron Door Key

Depicting Saint Basil the Great, Saint Gregory the Theologian and Saint John Chrysostomus, all nimbate and holding their holy writings, under the vision of the Holy Mandylion; Saint Basil wearing a bishop's sakkos, the other two wearing the usual orthodox priest's garb, phelonia; all three wearing a brocade band, omophorion, with four crosses; inscriptions in Old Slavonic with the names of the Saints, on the Nimbus of Jesus, the letters 'O Ѡ N' (‘I AM’); names of the Saints in the background in Old Slavonic; framed by double moulding, the first decorated with crenellated elements, the second with arabesques. 270 grams, 11.5 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.

The icon is the so-called icon of the three hierarchs, Saint Gregory the Theologian (Gregory of Nazianzus), Saint Basil the Great (Basil of Caesarea) and Saint John Chrysostom, archbishop of Constantinople. All three were important fathers of the church who strove to clarify and crystallise Dogma, for the unity of the faith, of the Liturgy and the needs of philosophy and letters.

Incuse male profile busts with stars in the background and other objects in the field; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 2.17 grams, 19 mm



Acquired on the French art market. Private collection, England.

Anthropomorphic figure (ittarma) with low-relief facial features, radiating beard, raised rim, bronze lantern-shaped pendant on cord around the neck; outer garment a sleeved coat in silken textile with open front; beneath, a fabric undergarment. 105 grams, 14.8 cm



From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s.

Such effigies, called itterma or ittarma are regarded as a temporary vessel for the soul of a deceased person. They were intended to maintain contact between the surviving descendants and the spirit world.