Post Medieval Silver Seal Matrix with Griffin

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 magnificent and superb quality Victorian Gothic revival painted altar or reredos panel, as exemplified by the works and designs of Augustus Pugin, on Welsh slate depicting a large golden cross with latticed arms and squared quatrefoil terminals showing the emblems and names of the four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John; the cross set over a circle enclosing a quatrefoil background with the main discus showing a white cross trefoil on a red expanding cross against a green background with the Christogram letters 'IHS' entwined for Jesus Christ; the design set against a dark blue field ornamented with 48 golden radiant six-pointed stars; complete with the original carved oak frame together with the carved oak projecting base plinth shelf with quatrefoil perforations and another Christogram 'IHS' within a blue oval to the central projection. 73 kg total, 134.5 cm base and 159 cm high

Fine condition.

Collection formed in the 2000s. Property of an East Anglia gentleman.

From the 4th century A.D., the vision of Ezekiel and John's Apocalypse, assigned the lion, the angel, the eagle and the ox a stable place in the iconography of the tetramorph to represent the evangelist Mark (lion) next to the calf (Luke), the angel (Matthew) and the eagle (John). They are, in Christian iconography and theology, the four winged cherubs singing the triumphal hymn, exclaiming, proclaiming, and saying: 'Holy, holy, holy, Lord Sabaoth'. The oldest representations date back to the 5th century A.D., and are found in the mosaics of the baptistry of Naples and in the apse of S. Prudenziana in Rome. The tetramorph was a favourite subject in 12th century ecclesiastic art and its use has continued to the present day.

A neoclassical marble frieze displaying a figural scene in raised relief; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 36.9 kg total, 1.3 m wide including stand



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.11696-199341.