Stuart Period Gold Memento Mori Ring with Jewelled Skulls and Crossed Bones

Tempera on wood, the central part of the composition showing the Archangel Michael, dressed in pseudo-Roman armour consisting of a quilted corset and pteryges hanging from the shoulders and waist, wearing tight Byzantine-style trousers and red imperial shoes, his green tunic contrasting with his pink cloak, holding a flickering flame in his left hand, symbolising his flaming sword; at his side Saints Florus and Lavrus, patrons of horses, dressed in cassocks, and red and green overgarments with gold ornaments at the hems, pink and green cloaks closed by a gold fibula on the right shoulder, the two martyrs in an attitude of veneration towards the Archangel; the lower part of the scene with three martyrs Speusippos, Meleusippos, and Eleusippos on horseback, the horses which Florus and Lavrus were patrons of before them; in the upper part, top left, God dressed in a pink tunic and green chlamys, sitting on a golden throne and assisted by angels with wings of fire, blessing the saints and the martyrs; at his side inscription in Greek letters 'ΙϹ ΧϹ' (ΙΗϹΟΥϹ ΧΡΙϹΤΟϹ = Jesus Christ); images of the saints Basil, Bishop of Caesarea and Blaise, Bishop of Sebastia visible on the borders. 4.2 kg, 70 x 50 cm

Vertical crack and border restored.

Acquired on the European art market. Private collection, London, UK. 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 search certificate number no.12793-240884. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

The legend of the two saints tells that the Archangel Michael aided the brothers in the recovery of their lost horses and also in their care and training; so Florus and Lavrus became associated with horses.

An oval opal cabochon displaying mainly orange and green colours in a pinfire pattern, set in a nine carat gold brooch set with variously cut diamonds. 4.98 grams, 24 mm



Ex London, UK, gentleman's collection, 1980-1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Cruciform pendant with integral loop, obverse with impressed cartouche and hieroglyphs, reverse with hatching. 5.6 grams, 43 mm



From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.