Byzantine Empire, circa 900 – 1100 AD.
The collection consists of four museum rarity carved gem cameos attributed to the following saints:
a 18.02 carat pink sapphire cameo (22 x 18 mm) carved with Saint Panteleimon the Healer. The saint holds a long-handled spoon (used to administer medicine) and a medicine chest, signifying his role as a physician and protector of soldiers.
a 32.23 carat white topaz cameo (22 x 18 mm) carved with Saint Nicholas. He is wearing a bishop’s omophorion with large crosses. His right hand is raised in a gesture of blessing and his left hand holds the Gospel book.
a 9.73 carat green tourmaline cameo (17 x 11 mm) carved with Saint George. He is shown with a sword, emphasizing his role as a warrior saint and protector of the faithful.
a 6.22 carat aquamarine cameo (15 x 11 mm) carved with Saint Demetrios of Thessaloniki holding a spear and a shield. He was one of the most important military saints and was often paired with St. George. Aquamarines were especially rare in the medieval period, lending further uniqueness to this cameo.
White topaz was mined in Ceylon, and in medieval jewelry, it was used primarily in ecclesiastical objects as a symbol of spiritual purity. Tourmalines and aquamarines were rare and exotic gemstones. Sapphires were brought from Ceylon and were expensive and highly desirable. Pink sapphires (same as rubies) were extremely rare and were praised for their red color which was considered a color of royalty and nobility.
These small gem cameos almost certainly served as personal devotional objects intended for private prayer or worn as protective talismans. They belonged to a wealthy gemstone connoisseur, perhaps a court official or member of the clergy with ties to the imperial gemstone workshops. Likely, all four were made in about the same time and probably at the same workshop.
The saints chosen – Panteleimon, Nicholas, George, and Demetrios – represent healing, spiritual authority, and military protection, making the group both spiritually potent and symbolically comprehensive.
The collection is sold together with a copy of the AGL report 1093600 for the sapphire.
