Neoclassical Marble Panel

A tempera on wood icon depicting the Mother of God supporting the Child with her left forearm, his right hand raised and making the sign of blessing, left hand holding a scroll; the Virgin wearing a red maphorion with a light green veil and a blue chiton; both figures nimbate, the haloes tooled with foliate designs, gilt background with a red and white arch above. 520 grams, 27.5 x 21.5 cm

The lighter areas of the flesh further highlighted with fine white brushstrokes. The gilding of the background lost, minor losses, minimally restored

Property of a London lady, part of her family's collection.

The layout of the composition clearly indicates the icon's close link with Hodegetria type, the most typical iconography of the Mother of God in Byzantium since the 10th century. However, the type also recalls the iconography of the Virgin Psychosostria, i.e. 'Health of Souls'.

A bifacial bronze Yämäṩor Mäsqäl processional cross finial with later replaced socket, flanking bird motifs and dense block of tendrils and wheels with seven cross-shaped finials, central panel with Virgin Mary, Holy Child and angels to the front, saints and Evangelists to the back. 55 grams, 26 cm (37.5 cm including stand)



Acquired on the London art market, 2006. UK private collection.

In contrast with the hand cross that is fitted with a grip, the processional cross has a hollow shaft into which the pole supporting the cross is inserted, although the use of both is interconnected in the liturgy and ceremonial aspects of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. In Amharic it received the name of yämäṩor mäsqäl or "cross to [carry] on a pole", the term mäṩor also meaning a wooden handle. Processional crosses are used on "every qaddase day" occasions - an expression meaning whenever the liturgy is performed. This includes displaying the cross during the reading of the Gospels and other sacred texts, as well as holding it up to be viewed at the end of the service for the final blessing.

A life-size marble upper body of a young female figure, likely the goddess Venus, shrouded in a palla mantle worn over the robe and draped over the head as a hood; the left arm bent to form folds and gatherings in the cloth, the right arm shown beneath the cloth held bent to the right breast. 133 kg, 84 cm high



French collection, 1960s-early 2000s. From an important Paris gallery, France. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11687-199355.

In Roman mythology, Venus was the goddess of love, sex, beauty and fertility. Married to the god Vulcan, Venus' principal divine lover was Mars, with whom she was famously trapped in bed with a net by Vulcan. The goddess also had numerous mortal lovers - Adonis for example. The earliest known appearance of a temple dedicated to Venus was founded on the Aventine Hill in 295 B.C. She is most closely associated with the month of April, the beginning of the season of spring.