A BYZANTINE BRONZE POLYCANDELON

CIRCA 6TH-7TH CENTURY A.D.

Details

A BYZANTINE BRONZE POLYCANDELON
CIRCA 6TH-7TH CENTURY A.D.
Composed of two openwork roundels arranged vertically, the larger hanging from the smaller via stiff hooked scrolling chains, each roundel with a labarum, the Chi-Rho at the center, the smaller with a single transept, the larger with a Chi (X) crossing the Rho (P), the transept of each with an Alpha (A) and Omega (W) descending from the underside, the roundels bordered by zigzags, the smaller roundel with several knobbed branches hinged along the edge, each with a round loop at the end to accommodate lamps, the larger roundel with fish-form lamp holders, riveted hinges at their mouths, their tails joined to loops to accommodate lamps, a suspension loop at the top and bottom of each roundel
Approximately 38 in. (96.5 cm.) long

Provenance

Wieseman Collection, Berlin, 1930s.
By descent to Martijn Brand.
Acquired by the current owner in 2002.

Lot Essay

The labarum, which is the Chi-Rho together with the Alpha and Omega, and the fish, are all symbols of Christ. Chi and Rho are for the first two letters of Christ. The Alpha and Omega symbolize the omnipresence of Christ, as "the first and the last" or "the beginning and the end," as found in Revelation 2:8. The fish came to symbolize Christ as the Greek word for fish, ichthys, is an acronym for "Jesus Christ Son of God, Savior." There are twelve fish situated along the larger roundel, perhaps symbolic of the apostles.

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