Post Medieval Iron Axehead Group

The gilt polychrome carving showing Saint Simeon holding the infant Christ in his arms before his circumcision, Saint Simeon wearing a priestly mitre, holding the infant above an altar covered by an embroidered brocade; Virgin Mary to his left gazing at the infant tenderly, veiled and wearing a long robe with gilt decoration; to her left Saint Joseph dressed in a long robe and gilt cloak, holding a carpenter's axe in his left hand; praying Saint Anna to the right of Saint Simeon, wearing a simple dress and veil; to her right Saint Joachim, wearing a yellow cap and gilt cloak; the columns of the Temple of Jerusalem on the background; on a wooden stand. 10.15 kg, 86.5 cm wide



Crait and Muller, 8 June 2021, no.2. Ex central London gallery. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.12181-221704.

The relief shows the parents and relatives of infant Jesus following the Jewish tradition of circumcising young boys eight days after their birth. This iconography is symbolic as, according to the tradition, Saint Anna and Saint Joachim, parents of Mary, died before the birth of Christ. This panel originally would have adorned the interior panels of a large altarpiece, showing the cycle of life of Christ.

Depicting a dynamic figural scene comprising a mounted horse-rider together with a second rider mounted on a mythical creature with two heads, the body and hindlegs of a horse and head and forelegs of a lion or other creature, two standing figures bin the foreground; egg-and-dart style frame with acanthus leaves to each corner. 4.2 kg, 54.6 x 38.6 cm



Private collection, England.

With tubular body expanding toward the rounded base, everted wide rim; repaired. 1.8 kg, 19.5 cm



Ex London, UK, art market, 1990s.