Medieval Silver Cross Pendant with Niello Inscription

Flat-section hoop with bezel formed as clasped hands, pointillé detailing to the cuffs. 5.48 grams, 24.85 mm overall, 22.10 mm internal diameter (approximate size British Z, USA 12 1/2, Europe 28.77, Japan 27)



Acquired in the 1970s-1980s. Property of a Kent gentleman, a specialist medieval collector.

Heater-shaped with lion rampant on red enamelled background. 10.54 grams, 32.7 mm



Ex Graham Slater collection, Cambridge, 1980s-1990s.

Oil on board in a gilt-moulded frame with arcade detailing at the top; youthful figure shown sitting on a stone bench, barefoot with right leg extended; head bowed and book supported on the left knee, wearing a green tunic and large brown hooded travelling cloak; set in a landscape with hilltop city in the middle distance; reinforcing straps and suspension to the reverse. 4.15 kg, 61.5 cm high



Ex Vicar Anders Frostenson (1906-2006), Sweden. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.13515-262842.

It was common in Western art of this period to depict Saint John on Patmos as a youthful figure. By contrast, the Eastern tradition tended to represent him as an old man. In this regard, if we accept that the author of the Apocalypse was Saint John the Evangelist, he would have been approximately ninety years old at the time of its composition. However, painters such as Francisco Pacheco portrayed Saint John the Evangelist on multiple occasions and, notably, tended to depict him as a young man.