Details

LOT 0358

Mount Athos Wooden Cross with Silver-Gilt Mounts

CIRCA 1700 A.D.

8 1/2 in. (140 grams, 21.8 cm).

Comprising: a wooden cross with carved scenes from the life of Christ (Nativity and others to one face, Crucifixion and others to the other face) housed in a filigree frame with beaded wire borders to the circular openings; three large amethyst beads to the arms, smaller coral and glass beads to each face; cannetille balustered stem and domed base.

Provenance

Ex Iconastas, London, SW1, UK, in 2004.
Ex Mayfair Gallery Limited, London W1, UK, in 2005.
Property of a London, UK, gentleman collector.

Accompanied by a copy of the Mayfair Gallery invoice dated 10 January 2005.
Accompanied by a copy of the Iconastas invoice dated 18 February 2004.
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 no.12488-229957.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Literature

Cf. similar crosses with ornaments, in Pelekanidos, S.M., Christou, P.K., Mavropolos-Tsiumi, X., Kada, N., The Treasures of Mont Athos, Vol.I, Protaton, M. Dionisiou, M. Koutloumousiou, M. Xeropotamou, M. Gregoriou (in Greek), Athens, 1973, fig. p.43 (Donisiou Monastery); idem, The Treasures of Mont Athos, Vol.II, Iviron, M. Panteleimonos, M. Esfigmenou, M. Xilandarios (in Greek), Athens, 1975, fig. p.18 (Iviron Monastery); idem, The Treasures of Mont Athos, Vol.III, M. Megistes Lavras, M. Pantokrator, M. Docheiariou, M. Karakalou, M. Filotheou, M. Aghiou Paulou (in Greek), Athens, 1979, fig. p.165 (Docheiariou Monastery); cf. also Beckwith, J., ‘Crosses from Mount Athos in the Gambier-Parry Collection’ in The Burlington Magazine, vol.109, no.768, The Gambier-Parry Bequest to the University of London (Mar.,1967), pp.173-174, figs.92-93.