A RARE AND IMPORTANT 18TH CENTURY GREEK ORTHODOX SILVER GILT, DIAMOND AND GEM SET MITRE INSCRIBED FOR JEREMIAS III OF CONSTANTINOPLE, 1715 Μίτρα (Greek), formed of a completely enclosed red silk velvet bulbous crown, the interior with red silk lining, the coronet formed of embossed acanthus leaves, the centre of each leaf held to the crown by rose diamond set stud, the front mounted with a gilt and rose diamond set crowned double-headed eagle holding an orb and spectre, the rim of the coronet engraved below the eagle with Greek inscriptions 'ΙΕΡΕΜΙΑΣ' [Jeremias] and 'Ο.Γ' and dated '1715', the four sides of the crown adorned with four silver gilt icons depicting the four Evangelists and their attributes, encrusted with rubies, emeralds and sapphires, the top of the crown with a chased silver gilt roundel depicting winged putti masks, joined to the coronet by four scrolling vinous arches, surmounted by a silver gilt and gem encrusted standing cross finial, in a fitted red Moroccan leather round box with brass mounts and handle, the mitre 28cm high, the coronet 18.5cm in diameter, the case 31cm high His All-Holiness Jeremias III of Constantinople was the Patriarch of Constantinople for two periods during the eighteenth century, from 1716 to 1726 and from 1732 to 1733.