Metal-Thread Embroidered Silk Panel with the Tughra of Sultan Mahmud II

The glazed silver pendant containing illuminated miniatures on each side, one side depicting Saint Roch and the other Saint Matthew; Saint Roch shown seated on the ground while an angel is attending his bubonic plague sore on his thigh, and a white dog at his feet; Saint Matthew on the other side depicted writing the Gospel with a young attendant holding a book beside him; the frame with a fixed bale to the top and the sides adorned with a twisted silver wire decoration. 36.2 grams, 58 mm



Acquired on the European art market.

Saint Roch (c. 1348–1379) is a Catholic saint, revered as the patron of plague victims, dogs, and the sick. Born in Montpellier, France, he devoted his life to caring for those suffering from the plague. According to legend, he contracted the disease himself but was miraculously healed with the help of a dog that brought him food and licked his wounds. He is often depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, a dog by his side, and a wound on his leg. His feast day is celebrated on August 16. Saint Matthew was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and the traditional author of the Gospel of Matthew. Before following Jesus, he was a tax collector, known as Levi. He is considered the patron saint of accountants, bankers, and tax collectors. His gospel emphasises Jesus as the Messiah and the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecies. According to tradition, he preached in various regions, including Ethiopia and Persia, before being martyred. His feast day is celebrated on September 21.

Rectangular scene with ledge to lower edge; high-relief carved scene depicting a standing male in loosely draped toga, holding the upper edge of a papyrus scroll; beside him, a small boy in similar attire holding the lower two corners of the document; legend in seriffed Roman capitals 'VICTORIAE / AVGVSTO / RE[...]' (to Victoria, to Augustus, ...). 127 kg total including stand, 87.5 cm high



Private collection, UK. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13393-259011.

The relief recalls the images of the Propaganda Augusti, diffused by Julius Caesar Octavian after his victory over Marcus Antonius and Cleopatra at Actium. The aged man and the boy represent the old and new Roman world meeting in the Principate created by Augustus.

A finely executed devotional pendant in the form of a Latin cross, worked in high-carat gold and elaborately decorated on both sides; the obverse set with twelve table-cut almandine garnets, each enclosed within raised rub-over collets and inset with finely painted polychrome enamel scene depicting symbols of the Arma Christi, the Instruments of the Passion, including the scourge, hammer and pincers, the column of flagellation, rooster, dice, crown of thorns, and other emblematic motifs; the upper terminal with black enamel and bearing a gilt inscription 'INRI', an abbreviation of 'Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum' for 'Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews'; the reverse with guilloché enamel in translucent green and opaque white, forming a cross with stylised foliate terminals; the pendant retaining its original integral suspension loop; some restoration on the enamel. 4.06 grams, 43 mm



Acquired on the European art market. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13403-257997.

This pendant typifies early 17th-century German devotional jewellery, in which vivid enamelwork and miniature Passion iconography converge in portable, contemplative forms of piety.