ANCIENT BYZANTINE RELIQUARY CROSS, c. 9th-10th Century AD

Country of Origin: Byzantine Time Period: c. 9th-10th Century AD Price: $1500 Matted: n/a (86 x 50 mm - 3 3/8 x 2”).

Ancient Byzantine Reliquary Cross of large size and museum quality appearance. This exceptional artifact is a two part, hinged cross – complete and beautifully toned with a smooth earthy olive patina. The cross is cast in two parts, and originally hinged top and bottom – the top pin is not existant. On the front, engraved in relief, is a figure of the crucified Christ. Christ has a cross nimbus on his inclined head, wears a colobium decorated with incised designs, and rests his feet on a suppedaneum. Above Christ’s head is a tabula ansata and representation of the sun and moon. The reverse is blank. This reliquary was not intended as a pectoral, and was sealed without a suspension bail. For a similar cross of this period, see Byzantium: Treasures of Byzantine Art #143 (British Museum).

The reliquary was constructed to contain a holy relic such as a saint’s bone or soil from a holy site. Fuente: Cepuckett