Post Medieval Wooden Painted Casket

A large bifacial wooden hand cross with engraved interlace borders and stylised flowers around crosses to one side, and blessing inscriptions in Ge'ez to the other framed by foliage; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 500 grams, 29 cm high (43 cm high including stand)



Acquired from Owen Hargreaves, 2003. UK private collection.

Ethiopian crosses, called in Amharic Maskal are divided into four main types: a) handcrosses, which can be large (22 to 53 cm) or small (14 to 21cm); b) processional crosses, usually measuring 22-60cm; c) pectoral or neck crosses, measuring 1-10cm; d) apex or architectural crosses, measuring 50-150cm. Our maskal belongs to the large hand cross category, probably of Havaria group, most common in the Shoa and Gojam provinces. The inscription reads from top to bottom: Sdar Alazar (name of locality) – Egzten nute mäsqäl (cross) on the left side, and Egzten Jesus (on the right side) followed by Adoneh Gavriil – Welde Hannah – Welde Michail. The cross invokes the blessing of God through the three Saints Hannah, Michael, Gabriel, who can be also the names related to the family of the priest who once owned the cross.

A silver cruciform pendant bearing the figure of Christ on the cross with elaborate arms in low-relief, a cross composed of pellets above, simple detailing to the hands, feet and loin cloth worn by Christ, suspension loop above. 6.9 grams, 38 mm

Fine condition.

Acquired on the UK art market in the late 1990s. Property of a UK gentleman.

A pair of carved porphyry vases modelled on the famous 2nd century A.D. Roman Warwick Vase with Bacchic ornament, beading and egg-and-dart ornament around the rim, foliate vines below with both handles formed from two entwined vines, the body displaying a frieze of male and female masks modelled naturalistically in high relief, leaves radiating upwards from the centre base; each created in two parts and accompanied by a marble plinth; probably re-used ancient stone. 10.7 kg total, 29.5 cm wide each



English private collection. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11684-199805.

The original vase was reputedly discovered at Hadrian's Villa, in Tivoli, Italy in 1771 A.D.; now in the Burrell Collection, Glasgow, Scotland. The vase is not entirely reconstructed from original elements but incorporates the restorer's interpretation of how missing elements of the vase likely appeared. The original vase was named after the 2nd Earl of Warwick who acquired it from his uncle, Sir William Hamilton, in c.1775.