Post Medieval Cameo of Eros Riding a Hippocampus

With blue enamel and framed by a raised border; Saint Julitta and her son, Cyricus, Saint Gregory the Theologian and Saint John the Chrysostom standing beside them at the centre; three half-length figures above: St. Paraskeva (right), Eudokia, and Barbara (left); OCS inscriptions identifying the saints framing the scene; on the top a deesis, with Christ Pantokrator at the centre, flanked by Saint Mary and Saint John the Precursor; at the top left corner Archangel Michael, on the top right corner the Archangel Gabriel; beneath Saint Gabriel, in vertical order, Saint Paul, Saint Gregory the Theologian, Saint Nicholas of Myra, Saint Demetrios; beneath Saint Michael, in vertical order, Saint Peter, Saint Basil the Great, Saint John Chrysostomos and Saint George; in the last row, nearby Saint Andrew, at the centre, the Archangel Raphael, with sword and cross. 360 grams, 14 cm



Acquired from Chris Martin-Zakheim, Iconastas, 5 Piccadilly Arcade, London SW1. From the private collection of a West London, UK, gentleman, formed since the early 2000s.

This icon was intended for private devotion, often carried by pilgrims and Orthodox believers for spiritual protection. St. Julyttas and her son Cyricus (Ки́рик и Иули́тта), among the most venerated figures in Russian tradition, are depicted in the centre, surrounded by other saints, a symbol of the communion of the righteous in front of the Divine Deesis.

D-section hoop and an oval bezel set with a grey banded agate cameo featuring a mature man in three-quarter view facing left, furrowed brow and short-cropped curly hair. 4.69 grams, 27.33 mm overall, 18.81 mm internal diameter (approximate size British Q 1/2, USA 8 1/2, Europe 18.12, Japan 17)



Acquired on the European art market.

Expanding hoop with tendril decoration, tapering hexagonal bezel set with a carnelian intaglio with insect motif. 6.62 grams, 30.37 mm overall, 17.97 x 16.69 mm internal diameter (approximate size British N 1/2, USA 6 3/4, Europe 14.35, Japan 13)



London, UK, collection, 1980s-1990s.