Byzantine bone and ivory and other artifacts of antiquity and medieval times

1088 BYZANTINE BONE PLAQUE
IX-X century A.D.
Trapezoid plaque was used as an inlay for a box. Carved in relief depicting a stylized bird in right profile. Mended from two pieces.
L. 1.6" (4.1 cm), H. 1.1" (2.8cm).
For close example, see: Davidson G.R. Corinth, vol XII, The Minor Objects. Princeton, 1952, p.135, #948; Goldschmidt and Weitzmann. Byzantinische Elfenbeinskulpturen des X.-XIII. Jahrhunders, I, no.109, pl. LXIV.
$ 475

1089   BYZANTINE STEATITE PLAQUE
           X-XI century A.D.
Rectangular fragmentary plaque. Carved with palmettes enclosed in double concentric circles which are interspaced with leaves against a background of cross-hatched lines. This pattern was the most commonly used on caskets of the Byzantine period.
L. 2.4" (6 cm), H. 1.2" (3.1cm).
For close example, see: Davidson G.R. Corinth, vol XII, The Minor Objects. Princeton, 1952, p.135, #949; Goldschmidt and Weitzmann. Byzantinische Elfenbeinskulpturen des X.-XIII. Jahrhunders, I, pls. III ff; Longhurst. Carving in Ivory, Victoria and Albert Museum, I, pp. 35-37, pls. XII-XIV.
$ 350

1136   BONE DETAIL OF A COMPOSITE BOW
           second half of VII century A.D.
           Eastern European nomads of mid-Avarian period
Carved from a single bone. Trapezoidal cross-section and flat back. Face side with two planes. Internal plane with ornamentation of incised cross-hatched lines and a carved out trapezoidal notch at the broad end. Opposite end abraded, otherwise intact.
L. curvature 9.8" (25 cm).
See: Müller R., Vorbericht über die Freilegung des Grabes eines hohen Militärs aus der Mittelawarenzeit in Gyenesdias. CommArchHung, 1989, abb. 8-9; Pryhodnyuk O.M. Stepove naselennya Ukraini ta shidni slov'yani. Kiiv, 2001, p. 173, fig.30.
$ 450

1104
Byzantine bone knife handle
IX-XI century A.D.
Fragment missing.
L. 2.9" (7.4 cm).
$ 75

1126
Bone knife handle
IX-XI century A.D.
Fragment missing.
L. 4.2" (10.6 cm).
$ 150

1105
Byzantine bone knife handle
IX-XI century A.D.
Fragment missing.
L. 2.6" (6.7 cm).
$ 55

1090
Byzantine ivory comb
XI century A.D.
Teeth missing.
L. 3.4" (8.8 cm).
SOLD

1114
Ivory handle
X-XI century A.D.
Fragmentary.
L. 4.6" (11.7 cm).
$ 75

1109
Engraved bone handle
VIII-XI century A.D.
Fragmentary.
L. 4.4" (11.2 cm).
$ 300

1112
Antler handle
VII-VIII century A.D.
Mended.
L. 4.8" (12.1 cm).
$ 75

1110
Bone handle
IX-XI century A.D.
Fragment missing.
L. 4.6" (11.7 cm).
$ 75

1123
Iron tool with bone handle
IX-XI centuries A. D.
Intact.
L. 3.5" (8.8 cm).
$ 125

1118
Bone spoon
IX-XI century A.D.
Intact.
L. 4.8" (12.3 cm).
$ 275

1128
5 bone plaque fragments
IX-XI centuries A. D.
Fragmentary.
L. 1.4" (3.6 cm) for longest.
$ 45

1097
Bone plaque
VII century A.D.
Fragmentary.
L. 2.8" (7.2 cm).
$ 45

1135
Bone plaque with bronze nail
X-XI century A.D.
Fragmentary.
L. 1.4" (3.6 cm).
$ 65

1127
Bone moulding
IX-XI century A.D.
Mended.
L. 4.1" (10.4 cm).
$ 75

1134
7 bone fragments
I-IX centuries A. D.
Fragmentary.
L. up to 2.1" (5.4 cm).
$ 65

1124
Bone pendant
IX-XI century A.D.
Intact.
L. 3" (7.7 cm).
$ 100

1129
9 Roman and Byzantine
fragmentary bone pins
I-X centuries A. D.
L. up to2.4" (6 cm).
$ 35

1107
Bone stylus
IV-V century A.D.
Point missing.
L. 4.1" (10.3 cm).
$ 300

Byzantine period buttons of ivory, bone or steatite exhibit a variety of decoration and were turned on the lathe. A study of the shapes has revealed no development within the three centuries (X-XII). Some of the bone buttons were dyed red or pink shades. For buttons see: Davidson G.R. Corinth, vol XII, The Minor Objects. Princeton, 1952, p.297-304;