Wooden Bread Stamp with 'Mohammed Prophet of God' Inscription

Finely carved, high-relief cameo depicting profile bust of the goddess, wearing a plumed helmet with the crest supported by a winged Pegasus, her hair modelled in soft curls framing the face and falling over the shoulder above articulated lorica (battle armour); small grape-shaped earrings and multiple necklaces carefully rendered, creating an appealing contrast between martial attributes and feminine ornament; set in an unmarked, high-carat gold frame, probably struck and finished in England after the gem’s return from the Grand Tour, two lateral suspension loops. 14.98 grams, 36 mm



Acquired on the European art market.

The relief shows confident toolwork: crisp contours to the facial profile, detailed treatment of the helmet and feathers, and subtle gradations of planes between the figure and the background.

A finely executed devotional pendant in the form of a Latin cross, worked in high-carat gold and elaborately decorated on both sides; the obverse set with twelve table-cut almandine garnets, each enclosed within raised rub-over collets and inset with finely painted polychrome enamel scene depicting symbols of the Arma Christi, the Instruments of the Passion, including the scourge, hammer and pincers, the column of flagellation, rooster, dice, crown of thorns, and other emblematic motifs; the upper terminal with black enamel and bearing a gilt inscription 'INRI', an abbreviation of 'Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum' for 'Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews'; the reverse with guilloché enamel in translucent green and opaque white, forming a cross with stylised foliate terminals; the pendant retaining its original integral suspension loop; some restoration on the enamel. 4.06 grams, 43 mm



Acquired on the European art market. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13403-257997.

This pendant typifies early 17th-century German devotional jewellery, in which vivid enamelwork and miniature Passion iconography converge in portable, contemplative forms of piety.

Cut from banded agate and set with silver fittings, the crucified Christ on the cross wearing a draped loincloth. 157 grams, 17.9 cm



Acquired on the European art market.