Russian Orthodox Enamelled Bronze Travel Icon with Saint John the Baptist

With roundels to the shoulders, broad plaque with 'MH' monogram in a ring of billets; inner face with heater shield bearing a lion rampant over '1565' and 'HENRI DARNLEY' legend. 5.48 grams, 21.20 mm overall, 17.66 mm internal diameter (approximate size British O 1/2, USA 7 1/4, Europe 15.61, Japan 15)



Acquired on the UK art market. Property of a Suffolk, UK, gentleman.

The tale of Mary Queen of Scots is a fascinating story of the Queen of Scotland which began when Mary was born on the 8th of December 1542. The only legitimate surviving child of King James V of Scotland, Mary ascended to the throne when she was only six days old upon her father’s death. Most of Mary’s childhood was spent in France, whilst Scotland was ruled by regents, due to an agreement proposed by King Henry II of France that Mary would eventually marry his son, Dauphin Francis. On 4 April 1558, Mary signed a secret agreement bequeathing Scotland and her claim to England to the French crown if she died, and twenty days later, she married the Dauphin at Notre Dame de Paris. When Henry II died in 1559, fifteen-year-old Francis and sixteen-year-old Mary became King and Queen of France. Upon her husband’s death in 1560 and now a widow, Mary returned to Scotland the following year. As a devout Catholic, she was regarded with suspicion by many of her subjects, as well as by her cousin Elizabeth I, the Queen of England. Mary then turned her attention to finding a new husband and in 1565, she married her half cousin, Henry Stewart, known as Lord Darnley, and they went on to have a son, James VI and I. In 1567, an explosion occurred at Darnley’s residence and he was found murdered, thought to have been smothered, in the garden. Lord Bothwell was believed to have orchestrated his murder; however was later acquitted and after abducting her, married Mary a month later. Following an uprising against the couple, Mary was forced to abdicate the throne in favour of her son and fled to England to seek protection from the Queen. This began the journey of Mary’s well known imprisonment and eventual execution by her cousin, Queen Elizabeth at Fotheringhay Castle. In 1820, a gold ring was found within the ruins of Fotheringhay Castle and was said to be the wedding ring of Mary, Queen of Scots and Lord Darnley. The bezel engraved with initials ‘M’ and ‘H’ and a true lover’s knot. The reverse engraved with the Royal Arms of Scotland, the lion rampant beneath a crown and the inscription ‘Henry. L’ Darnley’.

Comprising an olive wood cross on a triangular base with inlaid nacre and other detailing; lozengiform panels and nail-shaped plates, lateral rods with nacre to the ends; base with central gazed panel revealing three fragmentary supposed relics and label 'S. Serafin C'. 372 grams, 46.6 cm



Property of a Norwich, Norfolk, UK, gentleman.

Serafin was born in San Gimignano, Italy. Her family was poor, and her parents both died while she was still young. The child was known for her deeds of penance and humility but an illness afflicted her eyes, feet, and hands so she became paralysed.

With veiled head and wearing a fringed golden maphorion mantle over a dark blue robe with gold cuffs, inclined towards the infant Jesus supported by her right hand; monograms and titling, on each side of her head 'ΜΡ ΘΥ' (Μήτηρ (τοῦ) Θεοῦ = Mother of God), over the child inscription in Greek letters 'ΙϹ ΧϹ' (ΙΗϹΟΥϹ ΧΡΙϹΤΟϹ = Jesus Christ), three letters (only two visible) inside the nimbus of Christ representing the continuous divine self-existence of Christ as God ('O ѾN' = The Only One who always exists); rectangular wooden board with mounting bar to reverse; Moscow School; old label on the back with inscription in Dutch 'A209 Moeder Gods van Wladimir'. 1.3 kg, 35.7 x 31 cm



Acquired on the UK art market. Private collection, London, UK.

The original icon prototype of these smaller icons was the icon of the Virgin Mother of Vladimir with the infant Jesus (the original preserved in the Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow), probably the most famous icon of Russia, which was thought to have been created in Constantinople in the early part of 1100s. This image is sometimes referred to as the ‘tenderness icon’, with artists attempting to show the close relationship of mother and son with their cheeks touching as they embrace.