Post Medieval Chalcedony Gemstone with Bust of Minerva

Presenting an architectural setting with figures in two chambers framed with cornices, columns and furnitures; the upper chamber showing Saint Anna in birthing bed with two attendants; the lower room with two attendants bathing an infant; on the right Saint Joachim seated upon a cathedra; Old Slavonic inscription reciting ‘The birth of the most holy mother of God’. 230 grams, 98 mm



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.

According to the Protoevangelium of James, Mary's parents were called Anna and Joachim and conceived Mary at a late age.

The ring with a U-shaped hoop and lentoid bezel with ropetwist border, set with a polished banded agate resembling the all-seeing eye. 3.57 grams, 24.17 mm overall, 19.26 x 17.26 mm internal diameter (approximate size British P 1/2, USA 7 3/4, Europe 16.86, Japan 16)



Acquired on the European art market.

Eye beads, often crafted with concentric circle motifs resembling an eye, served as powerful amulets thought to offer protection against the evil eye and malevolent forces.

Oval banded agate intaglio engraved with Eros riding a hippocamp through the waves and wielding a whip in his hand; set in a later gold ring with openwork shoulders. 4.57 grams, 25.29 mm overall, 17.36 mm internal diameter (approximate size British N 1/2, USA 6 3/4, Europe 14.35, Japan 13)



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.13348-257957.

The term hippocampus originates in the Renaissance, from Julius Caesar Arantius. He originated the term from the Greek word for seahorse (hippos [‘horse’] and kampos [‘sea monster’]). Arantius published his description of the hippocampus in 1587, in the first chapter of his work titled De Humano Foetu Liber.