Renaissance Bronze Saint Jerome Plaque Fragment

Presenting an architectural setting with figures in two chambers framed with cornices, columns and furnitures; the upper chamber showing Saint Anna in birthing bed with two attendants; the lower room with two attendants bathing an infant; on the right Saint Joachim seated upon a cathedra; Old Slavonic inscription reciting ‘The birth of the most holy mother of God’. 230 grams, 98 mm



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.

According to the Protoevangelium of James, Mary's parents were called Anna and Joachim and conceived Mary at a late age.

Cupid shown standing amid the vegetation, his wings and arms spread and holding two short staffs in his hands, clouds and the sun above; set in a gold frame with a conical pendant drop below; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 13.53 grams, 75 mm



Acquired on the European art market. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13341-257981.

The cameo shows a Cupid in the same style as the one in the British Museum Sloane collection. Cupid was a very popular motif in 17th-century Italian artistic production. The presence of Cupid on the cameo implies amorous attachment, or sometimes, amorous conflict. The cameo shows a sophisticated atmosphere, relayed in the brown and grey colours.

Large oval cameo with profile bust of the Greek hero Ajax, shown bearded and with his helmet pushed up exposing his face. 27.3 grams, 48 mm



UK private collection, acquired on the French art market in the 2000s.

Ajax is recorded in The Iliad as ‘the best man among the Thracians, being both brave and of great stature’. He was one of the strongest warriors for the Achaeans, second only to his cousin Achilles. His epic duel with Hector is detailed in the seventh book of the famed poem by Homer.