Byzantine crosses and enkolpia

111   BYZANTINE GOLD AND ROCK CRYSTAL CROSS
         EARLY VII c. A.D.
Cast with conical arms and large suspension loop. At the intersection of the arms there is a high cone with a circular collar set with rock crystal cabochon. 1.6" (4.0 cm).
For a similar cross see: Catalog of the Byzantine and Early Medieval Antiquities in The Dumbarton Oaks Collection. Washington, D.C., 1965, vol. II, cat. # 179; Banc A. L'art Byzantin. Dans les Musees de L'union Sovietique. Leningrad, 1977, cat. 104; Dalton O.M. Byzantine Art and Archaeology, Oxford, 1911, p.544, fig.330; Elbern V.H. Neuerwerbungen Spätantiker und byzantinischer Goldschmiedekunstfür die Frühchristlich-byzantinische Sammlung. Berliner Museen, 1965, N.F.XV,H.2, Abb.1; Gomez-Moreno C. Medieval Art from Private Collection. A Special Exhibition at the Cloisers. Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1968, No.130.
Christie's Antiquities of New York, December 6, 2000 #189.
SOLD

208   BYZANTINE GOLD AND GLASS CROSS
         EARLY VII c. A.D.
Hollow conical arms and ribbed suspension loop. At the intersection of the arms, there is a truncated cone with a circular collar set with pale green transparent glass cabochon.
61 mm.
For a similar cross see: Catalog of the Byzantine and Early Medieval Antiquities in The Dumbarton Oaks Collection. Washington, D.C., 1965, vol. II, cat. # 179.
SOLD

628 BYZANTINE GOLD AND GARNET CROSS
V-VI c. A.D.
Box-type cross with with slightly flaring arms, double-ribbed suspension loop, set with garnet cabochon. Each arm, front and back, decorated with incised parallel lines. The front of this cross had been hammered over matrix, forming front and sides and the back plate soldered to it. There is porous material (bone or stone) inside this cross. It is more likely that this material is not a structural part, but rather a relic, as common practice for enhancing the talismanic power of enkolpia and to protect their bearers from evil, due to the opening in gold on the back to expose the relic. 28 x 16 mm. Some openings in soldered seams.
For a similar cross see “Catalog of the Byzantine and Early Medieval Antiquities in The Dumbarton Oaks Collection”, Washington, D.C., 1965, vol. II, cat. # 10.
SOLD

629 BYZANTINE GOLD CROSS
EARLY VII c. A.D.
Cast, with conical arms and double-ribbed suspension loop. At the intersection of the arms there is a high cone with a circular collar set with blue glass inlay. 1.3" (3.3 cm).
For a similar cross see: Catalog of the Byzantine and Early Medieval Antiquities in The Dumbarton Oaks Collection. Washington, D.C., 1965, vol. II, cat. # 179; Banc A. L'art Byzantin. Dans les Musees de L'union Sovietique. Leningrad, 1977, cat. 104; Dalton O.M. Byzantine Art and Archaeology, Oxford, 1911, p.544, fig.330; Elbern V.H. Neuerwerbungen Spätantiker und byzantinischer Goldschmiedekunstfür die Frühchristlich-byzantinische Sammlung. Berliner Museen, 1965, N.F.XV,H.2, Abb.1; Gomez-Moreno C. Medieval Art from Private Collection. A Special Exhibition at the Cloisers. Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1968, No.130.
SOLD

379   BYZANTINE GOLD AND GARNET CROSS
         V-VI c. A.D.
Sheet gold cross with flaring arms and box-set garnet in the center. Each arm decorated with incised lines. Ribbed suspension loop. 15 x 24 mm.
For a similar cross see: Catalog of the Byzantine and Early Medieval Antiquities in The Dumbarton Oaks Collection. Washington, D.C., 1965, vol. II, cat. # 10.
$ 1500

87   BYZANTINE BRONZE ENKOLPION
       before 1240
       Kievan Rus'
Originally composed of two halves and hinged at top and bottom. The surviving part of encolpion depicting Christ crucified, his arms outstretched, wearing a loincloth. Each arm of enkolpion is terminated with a roundel, left and right contain busts of Mother of God and Saint, with Nicolas above and Gregory below . 2.2 x 3.2"(5.6 x 8.3 cm).
For similar encolpion see: Evans H.C., Wixom W.D. The Glory of Byzantium. Metropolitan Museum, N.Y., 1997, cat. 206. The lost half of enkolpion would depict standing Virgin and four roundels with Peter, Damianos, Kosmas and Basil.
SOLD

104   BYZANTINE BRONZE ENKOLPION
         BEFORE 1240
         Kievan Rus'
Originally composed of two halves and hinged at top and bottom, suspended from 14 faceted bead. The surviving part of encolpion depicting Christ crucified, his arms outstretched, wearing a loincloth. Each arm of enkolpion is terminated with a roundel, left and right contain busts of Mother of God and Saint, with Nicolas above and Gregory below. The upper part has been broken and mended. 2.2 x 3.9"(5.5 x 9.7 cm).
For similar enkolpion see: Evans H.C., Wixom W.D. The Glory of Byzantium. Metropolitan Museum, N.Y., 1997, cat. 206. The lost half of enkolpion would depict standing Virgin and four roundels with Peter, Damianos, Kosmas and Basil.
SOLD

88 BYZANTINE BRONZE ENKOLPION
XII-XIII c. A.D.
Cast in two separate molds and hinged at top and bottom, suspended from a bead and decorated with niello inlays. On the face, in relief, is a representation of Christ crucified, his arms outstretched, wearing a loincloth and standing on a platform, cross in niello border above his head. At either end of the horizontal beam of the cross is a bust, representing the Mother of God and St. John the Evangelist. Ribbed border along the perimeter. On reverse is a figure of Mother of God in an attitude of prayer, her hands in front of her chest, palms outward, the abbreviated identifying inscription in Greek by her sides (MP QU). The busts in niello roundels to either sides and at the top represent evangelists. One of the upper loops missing.
1.7 x 3.1" (4.3 x 7.9 cm).
$ 1500

365 BYZANTINE BRONZE ENKOLPION
VIII-IX c. A.D.
Cast in two separate molds and hinged at top and bottom, suspended from 14 faceted bead. Each part decorated with engraved images. Front: Christ on the cross, his arms outstretched, wearing a long colobium and standing on platform. Above his head is the letter X for Christos, behind his head the crossed nimbus, and under the arms of the cross the letters IC XC NHKA (Jesus Christ conquers). On reverse: Mary, in orans pose, flanked by palms. Above her the abbreviation (misspelled) for Mother of God? Intact.
3.6"x 1.8"(9.1 x 4.6 cm).
For a similar enkolpion see: Campbell S.D. The Malcove Collection. Toronto, 1997, cat. 159; Spledeur de Byzance, cat. 149, p.168, br.11.
SOLD

106 BYZANTINE BRONZE ENKOLPION
XII-XIII c. A.D.
Cast in two separate molds and hinged at top and bottom. Each part decorated with engraved images. Front: Christ on the cross, his arms outstretched, wearing a long colobium and standing on a platform. Above his head is the letter X for Christos, behind his head the crossed nimbus, and under the arms of the cross the letters IC XC NHKA (Jesus Christ conquers). On reverse: Mary, in orans pose, flanked by busts of two evangelists. Above her the abbreviation MPΘV for Mother of God. 3.1"x 2'' (7.9 x 5.1 cm).
SOLD

105   BYZANTINE BRONZE ENKOLPION
         IX c. A.D.
Originally composed of two halves and hinged at top and bottom. The surviving part of enkolpion depicting engraved image of St. George, shown frontally, both hands raised in prayer. Decoration of his richly patterned chlamys schematically shown by incised dots and lines. Inscriptions above his image : OPГНОСГ ЕОРГНОС . 3.3"(8.3 cm).
$ 1000

507   BYZANTINE BRONZE ENKOLPION
         XII c. A.D.
Originally composed of two halves and hinged at top and bottom, suspended from hinged suspension loop. The surviving part of enkolpion depicting a cross in niello. Top of loop worn through. 4.1 x 19 cm.
$ 200

414 BYZANTINE BRONZE AND ENAMEL CROSS
XI c. A.D.
Cast in one piece with suspension loop. Enamels on front and back with reversed color scheme. In front: rectangular grooves filled with green enamel; termination of arms and center with yellow. Part of lower arm termination is chipped. 31 x 40 mm.
For a similar cross see: Catalog of the Byzantine and Early Medieval Antiquities in The Dumbarton Oaks Collection. Washington, D.C., 1965, vol. II, cat. # 157.
SOLD

112 OSTROGOTH SILVER CROSS
VII c. A.D.
Round section arms and suspension loop with two ribs. At the intersection of the arms, there is a high cone with a circular collar set with blue glass cabochon. 1.3" (3.4 cm).
SOLD

504   BYZANTINE BRONZE CROSS
         XII-XIII c. A.D.
Cast in one piece with simple suspension loop. Knob terminals and square with a cross in the middle. 2.4 x 1.6 cm
For a similar cross see: M. Finol. Art of Medieval Halych, 1997, p.202; Campbell S.D. The Malcove Collection. Toronto, 1997, cat. 142-8.
SOLD

108   TWO BYZANTINE BRONZE CROSSES
         XII-XIII c. A.D.
Each cast in one piece with simple suspension loop. Knob terminals and square in the middle. 1.1" (2.8 cm).
For a similar cross see: M. Finol. Art of Medieval Halych, 1997, p.202; Campbell S.D. The Malcove Collection. Toronto, 1997, cat. 142-8.
$ 250

505   BYZANTINE BRONZE CROSS
         XII-XIII c. A.D.
Cast in one piece with simple suspension loop. Knob terminals and square with a cross in the middle. 2.4 x 1.6 cm. 1/5 of suspension loop missing.
For a similar piece see: M. Finol. Art of Medieval Halych, 1997, p.202; Campbell S.D. The Malcove Collection. Toronto, 1997, cat. 142-8.
$ 100

98 BYZANTINE BRONZE CROSS
X-XII c. A.D.
Each of the four arms have ends with small knobs at the corners. Raised line along the perimeter. Suspension loop broken. 0.8" (2.0 cm).
For a similar cross see: Campbell S.D. The Malcove Collection. Toronto, 1997, cat. 152
$ 75

96 BYZANTINE BRONZE CROSS
XII-XIII c. A.D.
Cast in one piece with simple suspension loop. Decorated with circles done concentrically on each terminal and a square with a cross in the middle.
1.0" (2.5 cm).
$ 200
SOLD

85 BRONZE PENDANT
X-XIII c. A.D.
Western Slavs. Bronze pendant cast in a crescent form with cross in the center. An interesting example of symbiosis of Paganism and Christianity.
1"x 1.6" (2.6 x 4.1 cm).
For a similar, see: M. Finol. Art of Medieval Halych. 1997, p.158
SOLD