Loading, please wait...
Details
LOT 1962
Post Byzantine Bronze Pendant with Crucifixion Scene
15TH-16TH CENTURY A.D.
2 5/8 in. (92 grams, 67 mm).
A portable icon depicting the Crucifixion, Mary and Saint John the Theologian flanking the cross, angels in the upper corners, Golgotha skull under the cross and inscription I.N.R.I. to the upper part of the cross; crenelated frame with hanging loop to the top. [No Reserve]
Provenance
UK private collection before 2000.
Acquired on the UK art market.
Property of a London gentleman.
Literature
Cf. Rinduya, A.V., Small Ancient Russian Art, Moscow, 1978 (in Russian), figs.69,79,80,81, for similar.
Footnotes
The scene corresponds to John's Gospel: 'Here is your son.' 'Here is your mother.' (John 19:25-27). Portable icons of this kind were often carried by soldiers or by the travellers during a war, to assure the Divine protection and journey's safety.
CONDITIONVETTING:
TimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.
RELATED LOTS
-
Amethyst Bead Necklace
20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £26
Group of graduated amethyst coin type beads. 149 grams, 52 cm
Ex London, UK, collection, 1990s. -
.jpg)
Roman Style Marble Torso with Lionskin
19th century A.D. or earlierEstimate: £400 - 600 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £222
Modelled as a muscular nude torso with lionskin draped over the left shoulder. 508 grams, 14 cm
Acquired in the 1980s. From an interesting European collection of marbles. Property of a European gentleman.
Probably intended to depict Hercules, who customarily wore a lionskin. -
Marble Head of a Roman Noblewoman
Italy, 19th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £5,720
Female bust modelled in the round with hair centre-parted and dressed in ringlets gathered at the nape of the neck and extending to the shoulders; mounted on a socle base. 22.1 kg, 46 cm
Private collection, England. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12303-215648.
This portrait is directly inspired by a Roman model (fig. 1) discovered in 1880, now housed at the Museo Nazionale Romano in Rome and believed to depict Minatia Polla. The young woman depicted showcases the refined features characteristic of Roman feminine nobility, with a rounded oval face, large hemmed eyes, a long nose, and a well-defined, slightly open mouth. Her low forehead is adorned with a sophisticated hairstyle: long, soft locks separated by a middle parting that end in curls, with a few delicate strands falling over her shoulders. She wears a dress with subtle pleats and a round neckline. Upon comparing our portrait with the Roman original of Minatia Polla, it becomes evident that this piece is an exact neoclassical copy of the ancient portrait. The only notable difference is the more pronounced fullness under the chin in our version, which is less evident in the antique model. From the 18th century and throughout the neoclassical era, significant archaeological discoveries sparked immense interest and enthusiasm (as evidenced by Winckelmann), compelling contemporary sculptors to engage with ancient works to showcase their talents. The portrait presented here, given the delicacy of the features and the overall quality of the sculpture, is unmistakably the work of a master sculptor.
