Qajar Rock Crystal Seal with Lion and Sun Motif and Almosassa Calligraphic Inscription

A painted wooden board showing crowned Mary in Heaven, standing on a cloud with radiating light behind her, holding the crowned infant Jesus on her lap, both dressed in rich robes; below a praying man holding a crook and gazing up towards Mary and Jesus, behind him a deceased person resting on a raised platform and covered with a simple shroud; mounted in a glazed frame. 1.74 kg, 42 x 33 cm



Private collection, London.

Comprising a narrow triangular blade with ricasso; cup with band of foliage ornament below the everted rim; slightly S-curved quillons with finger-ring; barrel grip with ribbed pommel. 1.09 kg, 105 cm



From a private Tyneside collection, formed since the early 2000s.

With blue, yellow, white and green enamel, representing the Anastasis (Resurrection of Christ); the Saviour represented on two registers, in the upper one (Resurrection) emerging from the grave, surrounded by the hesychastic light, with the Roman soldiers falling asleep, and the apostles and a cherub beside him; in the lower register (Descent into Hades) Christ surrounded by the same divine light, leading the people from the Limbo, Adam and Eve, King David and Salomon and other souls to heaven; the frame decorated with gilt arabesques on blue enamel, inscriptions in Old Slavonic at the top. 200 grams, 11 cm



Acquired from Chris Martin-Zakheim, Iconastas, 5 Piccadilly Arcade, London SW1. From the private collection of a West London, UK, gentleman, formed since the early 2000s.

The iconography is typical of the Anastasis or Resurrection of Christ, with the gates of Hades broken under the feet of Christ, echoing the phrase: 'Christ is Risen From the Dead, Trampling Down Death by Death, and Upon Those in the Tombs Bestowing Life!'