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LOT 0421
Post Medieval Glazed Ceramic Bellarmine Jar
LATE 16TH-17TH CENTURY A.D.
12 1/4 in. (2.3 kg, 31 cm high).
Retaining its handle and featuring a stylised face in relief, three raised oval medallions to the equator displaying musicians playing string instruments; repaired.
ProvenanceAcquired 1960s-1990s.
Late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister.
Cf. The British Museum, museum number 1910,1215.1, for comparable examples.
CONDITIONTimeLine 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:
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Ethiopian Magic Vellum Scroll of Walatta Maryam
Late 19th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £390
Comprising three sheets joined together, bearing neat and regular lines of red and black inked script, together with associated images; the text including prayers for barya and evil eye, for Shotäläy and magical machination; the images representing two guardian angels at the top and bottom, Archangels Michael and Gabriel, within a geometric frame; at the bottom a picture of a jewelled cross with red triangles inserted within the arms; the owner's name given as Wällättä Maryam Beré. 56 grams, 1.97 m
Ex Adalberto Frezza, 2006. Ex central London gallery.
The sick looked upon such scrolls as it was believed that the images contained in them had healing powers. The scrolls were prepared by unordained clerics, or debatras, employed by Christian families, a practice which continued into the 20th century. Debatras were skilled at diagnosing the causes of illness, and treated them through scrolls such as that offered here, together with herbal and plant-based remedies; the images and prayers were believed to act on the spiritual source of the ailment, whilst the botanical remedies acted upon the physical symptoms. The scrolls covered the length of the afflicted person's body, providing preventative as well as curative protection and were often passed down through generations of the same family. The patients were often illiterate peasants, and the scrolls written in archaic Ge'ez, a liturgical language comprehended only by clerics; the debatras explained the prayers and the images to the sick. The images are designed to be mesmeric, the penetrating gaze of eyes from within the design giving them a sense of power. -
Georgian Silver Cockerel and Hen Mating Inscribed Seal Matrix
18th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £52
Composed of a balustered stem, pierced trilobate finial with ornamental knops and an oval die with animals and 'GRATIS' legend; accompanied by an impression. 9 grams total, 2.6 cm
Acquired on the UK antiques market between 1974-1985. Albert Ward collection, Essex, UK. -
Green Glass Gemstone with Portrait of a Man in Silver Ring
19th-20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Green glass cloison with profile bust of a bearded man with laurel-leaf crown. 8.99 grams, 25.82 mm overall, 19.73 mm internal diameter (approximate size British T, USA 9 1/2, Europe 21.26, Japan 20)
Acquired by the vendor's father on the UK art market, before 1990.
