Reliquary Bust of St Ursula, South German, 1593. Photo Sotheby's.

The maiden's gilded tresses flowing over her dress chased with fleur de lys and bordered by trailing flowers, winged cherubs heads and other motifs, an applied oval enclosing the Pascal lamb and flanked by armorials, above another plaque inscribed 1593 Hoc Sacrum Caput est ex Reliquiis Sanctarum und Ecies Mille Virginum Sodalium S Ursulae, her crown of eight panels of cherub heads, set with various stones as is the border above the four cherub feet with gothic openwork frieze between, ebonised wood plinth with silver appliques. Marked PH and dated 1596 on the inside partially parcel-gilt silver set with pastes, apparently unmarked; 52cm., 20½in. Estimation 18,000 — 25,000 GBP

PROPERTY OF A EUROPEAN PRINCELY FAMILY

Sotheby's. Of Royal and Noble Descent. London | 23 Jan 2014 - www.sothebys.com