15th century AD. A carved bone or ivory stem for a cup or chalice presenting a frieze of nude figures amidst a mesh of vine-leaves in high-relief, fronds and flowers on a hatched field; lower group comprising a female(?) climbing on a bending vine stem over a wicker basket, seated female holding the base of a stalk in one hand and observing a perching bird on the other; upper group comprising two lovers resting in a dense mass of foliage with female gripping a vine stem, two lovers supporting each other and the female grasping the male's shoulder, male standing with arms spread, holding a bunch of grapes; mounted on a custom-made stand. 136 grams total, 15.2cm including stand (6"). Ex central London gallery; previously from a private collection, North Germany; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no. 10551-170763. [A video of this lot is available to view on TimeLine Auctions website.]