Sculpture of a god’s head (Zeus or Hercules), marble, Mediterranean basin, Hellenistic period
Monumental sculpture depicting the head of a bearded god, probably Zeus. The hair and beard form wavy, loose curls; a long mustache descends on the sides and frames the closed mouth. The face has a serious, focused expression, with a slightly flattened nose and furrowed brows. The eyes are carefully modeled, with a distinct upper eyelid, without marked pupils. The sculpture is made of white marble. The piece dates from the Hellenistic period in Greece, circa 300–200 BC.
Shekel (Judas silver), Tyre, 139 local era = 13/14 after Chr.
Av. Melkart's head in laurel wreath to the right.
Rv. TYPOY [IEPAΣ] KAI AΣYΛOY, eagle standing left on prow of galley, palm branch on right wing, in left field letters PΛΘ (date) over mace, in right KP over monogram, Phoenician letter "Bet" between eagle's paws.
Silver, 13.6 g, 25.4 mm. Literature: DCA 920; HGC 10, 357.
Condition III+, rare and nicely preserved coin minted during Jesus' lifetime.
Singa Barong, polychrome wood, Indonesia, 19th century.
A striking polychrome wood sculpture depicting Singa Barong - a mythical winged lion, known from Balinese and Javanese traditions. The creature is shown in a watchful position, sitting on an ornate base with its mouth open and teeth bared. The figure's appearance is completed by its distinctive bulging eyes, curled tail and mane. Its body is covered with linear motifs resembling tattoos, its breast is adorned with a wide necklace and its front paws with bracelets. The sculpture was most likely associated with a protective function, both in temple and domestic spaces.
St. Augustine reliquary with Ex Ossibus relic, polychrome wood, gilded, Italy, 18th century.
An expressive figural sculpture depicting a half-figure of St. Augustine in episcopal vestments, with a heart in his hand. The sculpture is the finial of a console in which was placed a relic of the first class (Ex Ossibus), described "S. Augustini", protected by an intact church seal. The work of polychrome and gilded wood, made in the 18th century, in an Italian workshop, representing a good artistic level.
Stepping lion, gilt silver, Western Europe, 17th-18th century.
Small, realistically reproduced figurine of a lion with clear detail of the mouth and mane, made of silver, partly fire-gilded. Set on a slightly curved, florist-decorated pedestal. Visible traces of handwork - chiseling and engraving. Probably a fragment of a larger object - a reliquary, ceremonial casket or processional gate.
Table spoon, silver, Wrocław, early 18th century
Silver tablespoon with a richly decorated flat handle, ending with a characteristic profiled button in the Baroque style. On the top side, finely engraved floral ornaments - typical of Central European Baroque. On the underside of the scoop part, two punches: the city mark of Wroclaw (St. John's head in a circle) and the probationer's mark (the letter "H" in a heart). A proboscis in the place of joining the handle with the scoop - an element typical of Lower Silesian workshops of the period.