Roman Style Silver Female Figurine

Mixed group including tubular and spherical beads, claw-shaped pendants and a mask with applied detailing. 80.5 grams, 22 cm long



From an old English deceased estate. Acquired on the London art market in the early 1990s. Property of a London, UK, collector.

Comprising a trilobed plaque with three applied domes, granulation, sturdy hook to the reverse; Read's Class D Type 6; a high quality example in exceptional condition. 3.98 grams, 25 mm



Found whilst searching with a metal detector in Ryedale, North Yorkshire, UK, in 2022, by Matthew Lee-Smith. Returned to finder after being disclaimed as Treasure with case tracking no.2023T221. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.YORYM-708E7A. Accompanied by a copy of the letter from the British Museum disclaiming the Crown's interest in the find.

Leaf from a vellum manuscript with hand-coloured image: Mary, right, nimbate in red floor-length robe and blue mantle holding aloft a soul in yellow kilt, its neck seized by two crouching winged dark-skinned demons; a third demon, left, with protruding tongue seizing the upper body of another soul; foreground: two male figures seated on low stools, each with vellum page in one hand and quill in the other; panels of red Coptic text above the scribes, beside their souls; the right edge damaged, left edge folded and pierced for binding. 40 grams, 29.5 x 26 cm



Collection of David Buxton (1913-2003), author of 'Travels in Ethiopia', 1949.

The image is related to the tale of Virgin Mary and the two brothers who were scribes. In this tale, Mary rescues the souls of the scribes who had committed sins whilst they were engaged in writing a copy of the Book of the Miracles of the Virgin Mary.