Post Medieval Gold Ring with Mercury Gemstone

A portable wooden diptych icon depicting Bet Giyorgis on horseback on the left, dressed in red mauve riding coat, green cloak and carrying a shaft with iron head; on the right the Nativity scene with Virgin and the Child escorted by the angels. 562 grams, 20 x 15.5 cm



Acquired on the London art market, 2006. UK private collection.

The presence of angels dressed in western garments, the uncovered head of the Virgin and the swords of the angels, could suggest that the diptych is strongly influenced by Italian Renaissance painters. However, the chopping tool used here is particularly Ethiopian, as is the depiction of the Virgin and Child, lacking the care visible in Ethiopian works copied from Italian paintings. Ethiopian paintings influenced by European art can be split into two groups according to Stanislaw Chojnacki: paintings that directly relate to an identified painting, and paintings which borrow themes and details from Western art. In both, however, the Western forms have been simplified to the Ethiopian mode of expression. The horse harness can suggest dating to 16th-17th century A.D.

A copper-alloy statuette of a 'primitive' man, naturalistically modelled in the round standing astride a rocky outcrop, bare-footed and nude apart from a loin cloth, holding a club over his muscular shoulders. 7.5 kg, 43.5 cm high



English private collection.

Likely produced for illustrative anthropological academic purposes.

A tempera on wood Anastasis icon with a large central panel surrounded by twelve smaller scenes representing the twelve feasts of the Orthodox church; the central image depicting Christ‘s descent into Hell and Resurrection, the smaller scenes depicting, clockwise from top left: the birth of the Virgin Mary; the presentation of the Virgin Mary to the temple; the Annunciation; the Nativity; the presentation of Christ to the temple; the Epifania (Baptism); the entrance to Jerusalem; the Metamorphosis (Transfiguration); the Exaltation of the Holy Cross; the Ascension; the Holy Trinity (the Pentecost); and the Dormition of the Virgin; inscriptions to the outer border; some restoration. 3.1 kg, 44.5 x 37 cm



Property of a London lady, part of her family's collection.

The Greek term Dodekaorton (Δωδεκαόρθον) designates the twelve most important holidays of the Orthodox Christian liturgical year. They are divided into fixed date holidays and variable date holidays (calculated in relation to Easter). A second division is between the feasts dedicated to Mary and those dedicated to Christ. Each holiday is represented by an image (icon) encoded according to the interpretation of the Holy Scriptures. On the day of the celebration, the corresponding icon is placed on a lectern in the center of the church.