Lot 197. An Armenian gemset and enamelled reliquary, Ottoman Turkey, 17th century. Estimate £7,000 - GBP 10,000. Price realised GBP 47,500. © Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The pendant of ogival form with cusped edges, decorated in openwork with a pronounced cross with rosette centre and trefoil edges, two split palmettes emerging from the bottom and two pomegranates in the upper interstices, simple leafy scrolls decorated with white, green and blue enamels in between, the reverse with a central depression with hinged cover, the reverse of the cross and the vegetal motifs decorated with Christian imagery in gold reserved against deep blue or green ground, a later attachment loop above, and a single suspended pearl from the bottom and each edge, 2½in. (6.4cm.) high excluding attachment loop.

Note: The curved fronds at the base of the cross forming a typical Armenian cross identify that the patron of this reliquary was Armenian. A processional cross in the treasury of the Cathedral of Etchmaidzin has very similar enamel decoration and is embellished with inset gemstones and pearls in an almost identical fashion to this reliquary. That example is dated to the 18th century, (Dr. Sirarpie Der Nersessian, Treasures of Etchmiadzin, Yerevan, 1984).