7th C. Byzantine Bronze Hinged Reliquary Cross

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Clearance Sale - Ancient / Ethnographic Art

By Artemis Gallery

Jun 7, 2018

Set Reminder 2018-06-07 09:00:00 2018-06-07 09:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Clearance Sale - Ancient / Ethnographic Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/clearance-sale---ancient-ethnographic-art-3264
Looking for a bargain on authentic ancient and ethnographic art? These lots are going, going, gone! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

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• Lot Description
  Ancient Near East, Holy Land, early Byzantine Empire, ca. 7th to 8th century CE. A beautiful cast-bronze reliquary cross comprised of two crucifixes which fit together, and a large, tubular suspension loop with a latched base. The obverse side depicts the standing Virgin Mary with her son Jesus Christ in front of her, and both figures are flanked by the Apostles John and Peter. Mary is depicted as the Theotokos, or Mother of God, as indicated by the Latin monogram above her. The verso displays an image of Saint George with his Latin name shown above his head. The reliquary cross is able to be opened and filled with small prayers or locks of hair as intended, and gorgeous areas of russet and emerald hued patina cover both interior and exterior surfaces. Size: 2.25" W x 5" H (5.7 cm x 12.7 cm).
  
  The term "relics" is meant to encompass the physical remains of saints or objects associated with Christ, such as pieces of the True Cross, the shroud His body was wrapped in, or, mythically, the Holy Grail - held tremendous power in medieval Christianity. Reliquaries, objects designed to hold relics, were usually kept in cathedrals or churches, but some wealthy individuals were able to possess them. The less wealthy could purchase replicas of reliquaries, small reliquaries containing less precious items like soil from a holy site, or metal items produced as a form of souvenir from shrines. This example is known as an "enkolpion" (literally "on the chest") because it was meant to safely contain such relics inside the cross which would have been worn on a daily basis.
  
  Later, many of these objects were destroyed in times of religious conflict or strife; ones that are intact have often been passed down through generations of families. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has several of these items in its collection, including on display. See the small hinged cross reliquary depicting Christ and the Virgin on display in Gallery 303.
  
  Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
  We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
  
  #133312

  Condition

  Age-commensurate surface wear and abrasions, slight bending to suspension loop hinges and overall form, small nicks to suspension loop, bottom latch, and terminals, and fading to incised imagery, otherwise intact and excellent. Light earthen deposits within interior cavity, and lovely russet and green patina throughout.
• Shipping Info

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