Silver Memento Mori Ring with Skull and Crossed Bones

Keeled hoop with foliate motifs on the shoulders, raised bezel set with an agate. 8.88 grams, 37.80 mm overall, 18.21 mm internal diameter (approximate size British O, USA 7, Europe 14.98, Japan 14)



Acquired from bid2antique, Bangkok, Thailand, on 8th May 2008. Property of a West Northamptonshire, UK, gentleman.

Round enkolpion with finely worked icons both on the front and back, and eight small side eyelets for lost pearl ropes on the edge; at the top, a double eyelet for the chain; bordered by a delicate beaded edge with a slight knock in one place due to age; embossed depictions on both sides, finely rendered in repoussé; on the obverse a frontal bust portrait of the deceased Saviour, both arms of Christ limply hanging at his sides, the lifeless head resting on his right shoulder, behind him a nimbus and the cross, to the left of the soma (body of Christ) the abbreviation 'IC' (= Jesus), on the right 'XC' (= Christus), above the head a plaque with a Greek two-line inscription: 'O Basilevs tis doxis Christos' (Christ, the King of Glory); the Virgin Mary (Theotokos) depicted on the back, her hands raised in a gesture of prayer (orans) with exquisitely modelled facial features, flanked by an inscription referring to the Mother of God: the abbreviation 'MP' on the left, 'THY' on the right, furthermore, she is invoked as 'He Gorgoepikoo' (She who is quick to hear). 21.3 grams, 44 mm



Acquired by the previous owner on the European art market in the late 1990s. Property of a German university professor. Hermann Historica, Auction 87, 2020 no.19. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13291-254371.

Adorned with an icon of Christ and the Virgin Mary, this outstanding enkolpion symbolises purity of heart and the seal of confession and faith. Since the Byzantine era, golden enkolpia were pontifical insignia and usually worn by bishops. In this case, the size, the artistic craftsmanship, and the topics of the icons, depictions of Christ and the Theotokos, lead to the conclusion that it must have been the enkolpion of a high-ranking primate or archbishop. Extremely rare in this size and quality. Remarkable is also the artist's choice to depict the Mother of God slightly turned to the right and not show her frontally, as is common.

Featuring a wide hoop with an applied twisted rope decoration at the centre groove and on each shoulder, a pair of pellets flanking the oval bezel with a faux-filigree band and a central skull motif, underside with 'memento mori' inscription and letter 'A' on the inside of the hoop. 12.42 grams, 28.99 mm overall, 21.39 mm internal diameter (approxmate size Briitish W 1/2, USA 11 1/4, Europe 25.66, Japan 24)



Ex East Sussex collection, 1980-1990.