Medieval and Later Iron Billhook Collection

Comprising a painted board with mounting panel and slots to the reverse, gessoed surface with painting of St John the Baptist standing nimbate with wings spread behind him, left hand supporting a bowl containing his severed head and holding an unfurled scroll with Cyrillic text 'Repent ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand,' (Matthew 3:2); right hand raised in blessing; landscape with sand-dunes and trees; gilded title above; the upper border with gilt Slavonic inscription reading 'Holy John the Forerunner'; from the Palekh Icon School, probably made in Mstera circa 1890. 1.02 kg, 31 cm high

Fine condition.

Ex property of a London lady, part of her family's collection. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate no.11546-196366.

The Palekh icon school emerged in the 17th century, inspired by the Moscow and Suzdal traditions of icon painting. Although preserving many features of traditional Russian iconography, the school created its own style that remained active into the 18th century. The hallmarks of the school include the frequent use of gold on the clothes of the saints and a rich palette. Bodies are shown as tall and slender and abrupt transitions between light and shadow are distinctive features of Palekh icons. The wings of Saint John derive from the double meaning of the Greek word used to describe him in Mark 1:2 - Angelos, meaning both messenger and angel. John is often called a 'Heavenly Man' and 'Earthly Angel' in Orthodoxy. At his feet is shown a small tree with an axe cutting into it, illustrating Luke 3:9, 'And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the tree...'

Including a Trajan Denarius (98-117 AD), medieval buckle loop and other items. 24 grams total, 18-88 mm



Found Yorkshire, UK, before 1991.

The Trajan (AD 98-117) silver Denarius should be from the mint of Rome (A.D. 100). It shows on the obverse the inscription IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM, and laureate bust of Trajan facing right.

Conical segmented body with a tubular socket above to accept a separate crest; the surface of the fastening segments decorated with opposing triangles and an eagle at the base, the central segment decorated with an expanding arm cross at the base; the browband with an embossed inscription 'D[ominus] N[ostrum] IVSTINIANUS PERP[etuus] AVG[ustus] IN NOMINE XP[isti] VINCAS SEMP[er] = Our Lord Justinian, forever August, be always victorious; series of perforations on the lower rim, internally the lower part lined with corroded iron; supplied in a custom-made display case. 1.2 kg, 19.9 cm high



Ex property of a European gentleman. Accompanied by an academic report on this reproduction 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.12918-245690.