Thutmose III Grand Tour Scaraboid

Depicted with a young face, curly hair, crowned by a halo, six radiating wings with feather detail; two holes for attachment. 33 grams, 19 cm



Acquired Brigantia Antiques, York, UK, circa 2007. Ian Wilkinson collection, Nottinghamshire, UK, formed since 1985. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

The plaque represents the central applique of a riphidion, an ecclesiastic fan worn by the Deacons during the Liturgical celebration of the Orthodox Church. The iconography refers to the Cherubim, the Angelic creatures with many wings and many eyes, ‘Singing the triumphal hymn, exclaiming, proclaiming, and saying' Holy, holy, holy. Fans are appointed to symbolise the invisible presence of the angels during significant liturgical acts. They are carried in the Great Entrance while the choir sings, ‘We who mystically represent the Cherubim and who sing the thrice-holy hymn to the life-creating Trinity, now lay aside all cares of this life, that we may receive the King of All, who comes invisibly escorted by the angelic host’. The altar servers take the place of angels, and they carry seraphic fans like the ancient Roman soldiers who carry the banner of their regiment.

Mixed group of silver-coloured metal finger rings with inset agate and other cabochons, some with intaglio motifs, and a pendant. 49 grams total, 25-50 mm



Ex property of a South West London gentleman. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Tempera on wood with red and green frame, Saint Nicholas with a book in his left hand and making the gesture of blessing with his right, dressed as a bishop, with a green sticharion, covered by a red-pink omophorion, and surmounted by a white epitrachelion embroidered with black crosses; the saint flanked by Jesus and Virgin Mary, Christ holding the Gospel, Mary the bishop’s epitrachelion; Greek inscriptions 'Saint Nikolaos (O A[ΓΙΟΣ] ΝΙΚΟΛΑΟΣ), Iesus Christos (ΙΣ ΧΡ) and Mother of God (ΜΡ ΘΥ)' on the gilt background. 942 grams, 29.5 x 24.5 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.

Saint Nicholas lived in 4th century A.D. and was the bishop of Myra, in the Roman Asia Minor. Because of the many miracles attributed to his work, his cult was widespread in the Orthodox world and he is known as Nicholas the wonderworker. His reputation as a secret gift-giver (such as putting coins in the shoes of those who left them outside, or the dowry given to three maidens saving them from prostitution) created a model for Santa Claus. The veneration of the saint, who participated in the Council of Nicaea of 325 A.D., began very soon after his death.