Reliquary Bust of Pope Saint Sixtus II , South German, 1595. Photo Sotheby's.

The well modelled face with diaper hair crespine below the openwork domed mitre surmounted by a cross, richly chased with fruits, flowers and winged cherub heads, hinged (now fixed) to reveal the hair-chased skull with ring finial, the cloak with formal straps, scalework panels and crowns with gilt borders with similar embellishment to the mitre, on four winged cherub supports with gothic fleur de lys frieze between, applied at front with a roundel Hoc Sacrum Caput Est Sancti Sixti Papa et Martyris 1595, the cloak back with the Virgin and Child and applied armorials, the whole set with stones and on silver applied ebonised wood plinth; partially parcel-gilt silver set with pastes, apparently unmarked; 56cm., 22in. Estimation 20,000 — 30,000 GBP

PROPERTY OF A EUROPEAN PRINCELY FAMILY

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