Post Medieval Glass Cameo Bust

A bronze copy of the 'Warrior of Riace', found in Calabria, Italy, standing nude wearing a cap made from the face of the Nemean lion; bracer to the left forearm for attachment of a shield or lion skin cape. 40 kg, 1.42 m 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.11692-199339.

The 'Riace Bronzes' are two full-size Greek bronzes of bearded warriors, dating from about 450 B.C. that were found in the sea near Riace, Calabria, southern Italy in 1972. They are now in the Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia in the city of Reggio Calabria.

A large bifacial wooden hand cross with engraved interlace borders and stylised flowers around crosses to one side, and blessing inscriptions in Ge'ez to the other framed by foliage; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 500 grams, 29 cm high (43 cm high including stand)



Acquired from Owen Hargreaves, 2003. UK private collection.

Ethiopian crosses, called in Amharic Maskal are divided into four main types: a) handcrosses, which can be large (22 to 53 cm) or small (14 to 21cm); b) processional crosses, usually measuring 22-60cm; c) pectoral or neck crosses, measuring 1-10cm; d) apex or architectural crosses, measuring 50-150cm. Our maskal belongs to the large hand cross category, probably of Havaria group, most common in the Shoa and Gojam provinces. The inscription reads from top to bottom: Sdar Alazar (name of locality) – Egzten nute mäsqäl (cross) on the left side, and Egzten Jesus (on the right side) followed by Adoneh Gavriil – Welde Hannah – Welde Michail. The cross invokes the blessing of God through the three Saints Hannah, Michael, Gabriel, who can be also the names related to the family of the priest who once owned the cross.

A bronze plaque displaying La Pietá in repoussé, in a wooden frame. 2.56 kg, 46.5 x 35.5 cm



English private collection.