Silver Enamelled Letter Opener with Agate Blade

A wooden triptych with recessed central panel and two folding doors; the central panel with crucifixion scene with robed Mary and John the Evangelist, another apostle and Mary Magdalen, two crucified thieves to the rear and the angels depicted collecting the blood of God in cups; underneath the Crucifixion scene Virgin Mary and the Child escorted by armed Saint Gabriel and Saint Michael, prophets to the sides; the left door with nude Adam and Eve reaching up to the Resurrection of Christ, beneath them three prophets; the right door with two saints (upper panel) and three prophets; left and right bottom panels with Saint George (Bet Giorgis) and military Saint Victor on horseback; Ethiopian Ge'ez script legends. 760 grams, 35.5 x 21.5 cm



Acquired on the London art market, 2003. UK private collection.

The icon shows the Western influence on Ethiopian art. The first element is the orb which the Child holds in his left hand and the second element is the pose of his right hand. The orb appeared in Ethiopian paintings around 1500 A.D. Moreover, his hand shows two fingers outstretched, the index and middle finger, and the two last fingers folded.

A gold finger ring with openwork hoop and split shoulders, ellipsoid bezel with carnelian intaglio of Mercury wearing a petasos. 3.36 grams, 21.24 mm overall, 18.50 mm internal diameter (approximate size British Q 1/2, USA 8 1/4, Europe 18.12, Japan 17)



English private collection.

A marble head carved naturalistically in the round with cropped hair, wearing a taenia headband seemingly featuring Greek key motif; possibly representing a deity, a muse or even a female satyr; mounted on a carved stone base. A marble head carved naturalistically in the round with cropped hair, wearing a taenia headband seemingly featuring Greek key motif; possibly representing a deity, a muse or even a female satyr; mounted on a carved stone base.



with Arts D'Orient, Artcurial, Paris, 19 May 2014, lot 138. English private collection.