Roman Style Bloodstone Gemstone with Hades and Persephone

Morocco leather folding cover with applied gold-leaf and polychrome painted design to outer; holding a gathering of loose laid-paper sheets, some with extensive handwritten Hebrew texts. 170 grams, 23 x 16.5 cm



From the collection of a London antiquarian, formed since the 1980s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Showing the Evangelists and the Crucifixion with Saint Mary, Saint John and Saint Longinos on one side with Greek inscription 'STAVROSIS (Η ΣΤΑΥΡΟΣΙΣ = the Crucifixion)' above; the Baptism on the other side with Greek inscription 'VANGELISMOU (Η ΒΑΝΓΕΛΙΣΜΟΥ = the Apparition)' above, evangelists depicted above and below with the angels Gabriel and Michael to the sides. 93 grams, 19.5 cm



Acquired from Portobello Road, London, in the 1980s. Property of a London, UK, gentleman collector. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

The term ‘Dodekaorton cross’ is the most appropriate for this category of crosses and is used in other codices of the post-Byzantine period. These small crosses were used by the Hieromonks for blessings to the faithful and in various processions and liturgies, and were often mounted with frames made of precious materials. The carving of wooden crosses is regarded as an art traditionally practiced by Athonite monks. Ioannis Komninos in 1698 and the Jesuit priest Braconnier in 1706 both refer to the carved wooden pectorals and crosses made by the monks in order to provide themselves with a livelihood.

The bezel with a clasped hands motif with a heart at the centre and elaborate cuffs, narrow D-section hoop; inscribed to the inner face 'No treasure to a true friend' with a long S, worn maker's mark at the end of the inscription, appearing to have the letters 'IV' or IW' in Roman capitals within a simple escutcheon. 2.26 grams, 18.54 mm overall, 16.40 mm internal diameter (approximate size British L, USA 5 3/4, Europe 11.24, Japan 10)



Found near Burstow, Tanbridge, Surrey, UK, on Monday 1st May 2023; disclaimed with treasure reference 2023 T419. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme report no.SUR-OAA74B. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

If the maker's mark is 'IV' it may correspond to John Vickerman, a goldsmith active in London from 1768 to 1773. Alternatively, if the maker's mark is 'IW' it may correspond to a number of makers: John Williamson, 1650; John Ward, 1660; James Wilkes, 1722; or John White, 1724.