Thutmose III Grand Tour Scarab

Depicting Mary holding a lily flower with her right hand and supporting infant Jesus with her left arm; Jesus crowned by a crossed diadem and holding a gospel in his hand; background in gold thread, framed in a circular silver frame with dedicatory inscription to the reverse from a certain Alexander to the Jerusalem’s Archbishop Dositheus, reciting: + Τω ΜΑΚΑΡΙΟΤΑΤω ΚΑΙ CΟΦωΤΑΤω ΠΑΤΡΙΑΡΧΗ ΙΕΡΟCΟΛΥΜωΝ ΔΟCΙΘΕω ΤΙΜΗC ΕΝΕΚΕΝ – μηνι cεπτεμβριω 1698 – Αλεξανδρος – To His Beatitude and Enlighted Patriarch of Jerusalem Dositheus, as a sign of respect – September 1698 – Alexander; internal padding with floral decoration. 82 grams, 10 cm



Property of a London, UK, gentleman collector. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

The art of gold embroidery developed in Constantinople, with its own guild, and continued also after the end of the empire. Important artists like the legendary Despoineta, Mariora, Eusebia and Kokona, were famous in the 'painterly' rendering of religious subjects, not with the brush, but with the needle: red satin, and silver and gold wire created dresses, shadows, volumes with a sense of depth and sculptural quality. The artists conceived their works like a true prayer: a hope, based on human creativity.

With D-section tapering hoop, black enamel finish with reserved rosettes and tendrils, the bezel an ornate heater shield with reserved text 'In memory OE' and copperplate engraving to the inner face '1852 / obt.63', 'Mrs.Sarah Hems, obt.26 May' and stamped assay marks: crown, '18', leopard's head, gothic 'k' in octagonal panel (dated to 1845). 4.14 grams, 22.74 mm overall, 17.43 mm internal diameter (approximate size British O, USA 7, Europe 14.98, Japan 14)



Acquired on the UK art market. Property of an East Sussex collector. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

With embossed St. George and the Dragon, surrounded by '1897, Victoria & Saint Georges Challenge Shield', presented by Mrs. W. Clemence, with nine winners noted around the outer edge. 1.04 kg, 39.5 cm



Presented by Mrs W. Clemence in 1897. Property of a Stockport, UK, collector. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

The regiment was raised as the 1st (Victoria Rifle Club) Middlesex Rifle Volunteer Corps and became the 1st Middlesex Rifle Volunteer Corps on the formation of the Volunteer Force in 1860. By 1892 the 1st Middlesex and 6th (St George's) Rifle Volunteer Corps were joined together.