Sassanian Style Silver Bowl

Carved with the hair drawn back from the face and tied in a chignon, the face soft and youthful with lentoid eyes, with some later re-carving; mounted on a custom-made stand. 492 grams total, 16.5 cm high including stand



London art market, acquired 1988.

Illustrating scenes from the Gospel of Luke and representing the nativity of Christ; the centre shows Virgin Mary sitting on a throne, portrayed as a young girl with her head covered by a typical female cap, dressed in a long red vestis talaris, and her body wrapped in a blue cloak and baby Jesus standing on her lap, archangels Michael and Gabriel standing on each sides, armed with swords and dressed in contrasting robes, Saint Gabriel holding a bouquet of roses, another bouquet below the Virgin and a male supplicant next to her, possibly the donor of the icon, holding a red flag surmounted by a cross; the left side panel with the Annunciation to the top and the lower part depicting an angel assisting St Luke with drafting his Gospel; the right hand panel with a Nativity scene to the top and the lower part depicting the visit of Saint Mary to Saint Elizabeth; inscriptions in Ge'ez to both side panels. 4.3 kg, 59.5 x 44 cm



Acquired from Milos Simonovic, New York, USA, December 2009. Property of an important West London collector, inventory no.1168. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12037-216186.

The icon, contemporary to the Second Style of Gondar, served as model for two icons in the Institute of Ethiopian Studies in Addis Ababa.

Including two with pointed toe, pierced to accept stitching to attach the upper. 120 grams total, 18.5 - 23.1 cm



Found Billingsgate spoil from the Thames foreshore, London, UK, circa 1984. Property of an Essex collector.