Lot 251
251
John, vestes, judge of the Hippodrome and overseer of the oikeiaka (mid 11th century), standing nimbate figures of Saint Nicholas on right, wearing liturgical vestments, right hand raised in benediction, holding Gospels in left, and the Virgin at left, wearing chiton and maphorion, raising her right hand in supplication, in left and centre fields, vertical inscriptions ***, on either side of the Virgin **, border of dots, rev. in six lines, ***, 18.68g. (Z.II, 532), extremely fine
John, vestes, judge of the Hippodrome and overseer of the oikeiaka (mid 11th century), standing nimbate figures of Saint Nicholas on right, wearing liturgical vestments, right hand raised in benediction, holding Gospels in left, and the Virgin at left, wearing chiton and maphorion, raising her right hand in supplication, in left and centre fields, vertical inscriptions ***, on either side of the Virgin **, border of dots, rev. in six lines, ***, 18.68g. (Z.II, 532), extremely fine

Details
John, vestes, judge of the Hippodrome and overseer of the oikeiaka (mid 11th century), standing nimbate figures of Saint Nicholas on right, wearing liturgical vestments, right hand raised in benediction, holding Gospels in left, and the Virgin at left, wearing chiton and maphorion, raising her right hand in supplication, in left and centre fields, vertical inscriptions ***, on either side of the Virgin **, border of dots, rev. in six lines, ***, 18.68g. (Z.II, 532), extremely fine

Lot Essay

The office of the oikeiaka, created in the reign of Basil II, administered abandoned property which reverted to the state, and which had previously been disposed of at low prices. Under the overseer this office increased in importance during the 11th century, providing the state with significant income. The name John does not allow us to identify the owner of this seal, though he was clearly of some importance, being also a judge.