Lot Essay
For a similar reliquary cross see no. 119 in Evans and Wixom, The Glory of Byzantium.
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CIRCA 10TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.
Details
A BYZANTINE BRONZE RELIQUARY CROSS
circa 10th-11th century a.d.
Composed of two separately-cast halves hinged at the base and pinned to a suspension loop above, both sides decorated in relief, the obverse with the Crucifixion, flanked at the ends of the crossbar by a small figure of the Virgin and Saint John the Theologian, an inscription in Greek beneath Christ's arms reading "Here is your son; here is your mother" [John 19:26, 27], above the cross are the sun and the moon; the reverse with the Virgin and Child surrounded by four medallions with the Evangelists, Matthew above, John to the right, Mark below, and Luke to the left, each figure identified by an inscription
5.1/8 in. (13 cm.) high
circa 10th-11th century a.d.
Composed of two separately-cast halves hinged at the base and pinned to a suspension loop above, both sides decorated in relief, the obverse with the Crucifixion, flanked at the ends of the crossbar by a small figure of the Virgin and Saint John the Theologian, an inscription in Greek beneath Christ's arms reading "Here is your son; here is your mother" [John 19:26, 27], above the cross are the sun and the moon; the reverse with the Virgin and Child surrounded by four medallions with the Evangelists, Matthew above, John to the right, Mark below, and Luke to the left, each figure identified by an inscription
5.1/8 in. (13 cm.) high