A BYZANTINE BLOODSTONE INTAGLIO

CIRCA 9TH-10TH CENTURY A.D.

Details

A BYZANTINE BLOODSTONE INTAGLIO
CIRCA 9TH-10TH CENTURY A.D.
Showing the crucified Christ flanked by the Mother of God and St. John the Evangelist, Christ with his head slumped on his right shoulder, wearing a cross-nimbus and colobium, resting his feet on a suppedaneum, the Mother of God with one hand raised to her face in mourning, the other reaching out to Christ, the abbreviated Greek inscription 'Behold thy Son; Behold thy Mother' (John 19.26-7) above; the reverse showing the frontal figure of the orant Daniel above two confronting lions, identified by his name inscribed behind, set in a silver frame, suspension loop above
1 1/16 in. (2.7 cm.) high

Provenance

Private collection, U.K., 1970s-1980s.

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Lot Essay

According to myth, bloodstone was first formed by drops of Christ's blood which fell on and stained some jasper lying at the foot of the cross. Consequently, it was frequently used to carve scenes of the Crucifixion and of martyrs, leading to it being known as the martyr's stone.

For iconographic parallels to these two scenes, cf. D. Buckton (ed.), Byzantium: Treasures of Byzantine Art and Culture, London, 1994, p. 134, no. 143, for a similar Crucifixion scene, and p. 159, no. 174 for Daniel with the Lions.

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