Roman Style Silver Bull Statuette

Hinged suspension loop, two recessed halves hollow to the reverse, low-relief figure in orans pose to the obverse, geometric ornament to the reverse. 126 grams, 10.5 cm



Acquired 1980-1990s. From the private collection of H.N., Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire, UK.

Usually the reliquary crosses or enkolpia, were composed of two separate halves, inside of which a relic of a saint was contained; this could have been a piece of cloth or a bone. The practice, in the Orthodox Church, is still in place today, sometimes by using reproductions of ancient styles, like our specimen, probably realised at the beginning of the last century.

From the Book of Revelation or Apocalypse; the central image of seated Christ on a blue cloud with gold circlets supported by cherubs, an arch of cherubs represented as fire-creatures above him; surrounded by angels holding the models of the seven churches of Asia, from left to right: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamon, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea, with their names written next to the models and a candlestick before; resting figure of Saint John below, dressed in red himation and green pallium, a monk dressed in long white sticharion and epitrachelion beside him; panel with text from the Book of Revelation above him; mounted in a modern gilt frame with an old label for 'Henry J Murcott' to the reverse. 5.6 kg total, 90.5 x 74.5 cm



Acquired in the 1990s or before. From a deceased London, UK, estate. Accompanied by an academic report Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

A substantial decorative designer bust depicting a male with hair tied at the nape of the neck and wearing the pschent double crown; after the antique. 22.2 kg, 41 cm



From a French collection, Paris. Ex Parisian gallery, France; latterly with a London, UK, gallery.