Post Medieval Marble Bust of a Female

A marble statue of a saint or apostle modelled in the round, standing, wearing a floor-length simple robe draped over his right shoulder and open to his left elbow; his head held erect and slightly turned, long bead resting on his chest; in his hands, a chalice or cup from which to pour the baptismal water. 93 kg, 98 cm high

Worn, lower legs absent.

Acquired between the 1970s and 1980s. From the private collection of John Watson, Cambridge, UK, who worked for the Anthropology and Archaeology Museum, Downing Street, Cambridge. Situated in his garden for at least 30 years.

A mixed group of silver artefacts comprising; coins bent into 'love tokens'; worn coins; a plain finger ring; two crotal bell fragments; bulbous button fragment; button with geometric floral motif; fragment of a thimble. 28.7 grams total, 8-25 mm



Found Wiltshire, UK.

A wooden painted icon of Saint Eleutherios with a repoussé silver oklad that covers all but the face, embossed in rich priestly robes, representing the priest's omophorion decorated with crosses, over an embroidered robe or sticharion, the nimbus gilded and embossed with foliage and rays over a silver background, Greek inscription 'O AΓΙΟΣ ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΙΟΣ' (Saint Eleutherios) to the sides. 1.9 kg, 37.5 x 28.7 cm



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

As bishop in Illyricum, Eleutherios promoted the cause of at a time when the persecutions not only made it difficult to win and hold converts, but also at a time when the gravest danger was in being a high-ranking prelate of the Church. Oblivious to this threat, he was acclaimed in the inner circle of Christianity as the brightest luminary of Christian Rome since the apostles. His immense popularity grew and thereby became more dangerous to the state. He was finally brought to the attention of Emperor Hadrian, who ordered his arrest, and then cast into prison, tortured, and put to death on December 15th.