Stuart Period Engraved Gold Ring with Carnelian Gemstone

With blue enamel and framed by a raised border; Saint Julitta and her son, Cyricus, Saint Gregory the Theologian and Saint John the Chrysostom standing beside them at the centre; three half-length figures above: St. Paraskeva (right), Eudokia, and Barbara (left); OCS inscriptions identifying the saints framing the scene; on the top a deesis, with Christ Pantokrator at the centre, flanked by Saint Mary and Saint John the Precursor; at the top left corner Archangel Michael, on the top right corner the Archangel Gabriel; beneath Saint Gabriel, in vertical order, Saint Paul, Saint Gregory the Theologian, Saint Nicholas of Myra, Saint Demetrios; beneath Saint Michael, in vertical order, Saint Peter, Saint Basil the Great, Saint John Chrysostomos and Saint George; in the last row, nearby Saint Andrew, at the centre, the Archangel Raphael, with sword and cross. 360 grams, 14 cm



Acquired from Chris Martin-Zakheim, Iconastas, 5 Piccadilly Arcade, London SW1. From the private collection of a West London, UK, gentleman, formed since the early 2000s.

This icon was intended for private devotion, often carried by pilgrims and Orthodox believers for spiritual protection. St. Julyttas and her son Cyricus (Ки́рик и Иули́тта), among the most venerated figures in Russian tradition, are depicted in the centre, surrounded by other saints, a symbol of the communion of the righteous in front of the Divine Deesis.

Comprising a D-section hoop with the shoulders formed as snake-heads supporting the bezel, a decorative border on the bezel, and set with an octagonal agate intaglio with a grazing zebu. 8.48 grams, 31.14 mm overall, 18.95 mm internal diameter (approximate size British R 1/2, USA 8 3/4, Europe 19.38, Japan 18)



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

The goddess shown in an elegant pose with her head turned to the right and her gaze directed upwards, wearing a laurel leaf crown and a loose garment covering her left breast, leaving the right one exposed, narrow quiver strap crossing over her right shoulder; her hair dressed in soft waves and pulled to a chignon at the nape of her neck; old repair on the neck. 66.5 kg, 68 cm high



Acquired on the UK art market. Private collection, London. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.13080-246797.

In the 19th century, many studies of the hunter goddess were inspired by the 'Diana of Versailles', a 2nd-century Roman version in the Greek tradition of iconography, today in the collection of the Louvre Museum, Paris, France.