Treasures From The Eastern Roman Empire
JEWELRY GLASS IVORY POTTERY LAMPS CHRISTIAN OTHER ENGRAVINGS
BYZANTINE JEWELRY
We also have several more excellent Byzantine gold crosses available. Email us at Edgar@EdgarLOwen.com for pictures and descriptions.
BYZANTINE GOLD MASTERWORKS 11648. A MAGNIFICENT BYZANTINE GOLD CROSS WITH MATCHING PENDANTS. Late Byzantine period, c. 8th-10th century AD. A matching set consisting of a magnificent ornate 22kt gold openwork cross, beautifully decorated and set with cabochon garnets each side. Plus a matching pair of large 22kt gold earrings or temple pendants from the same artist's hand with the same beautiful openwork design, each having a hinged hanging loop with pin. The cross measuring 5cm in length and weighing 36.46 grams, the pendants measuring 6.5 cm x 4.5 cm, x 0.9 cm. and weighing 24.78 gm. All in generally excellent condition, compete and wearable with no repair or restoration and with intact suspension loops.
Provenance: A private English collection. Good and legal provenance provided to buyer. Front view. Side view. Pendants. Pendants.
$40,000.
11143. ORNATE BYZANTINE GOLD BOX CROSS, c. 5th-7th century AD. The box cross with indented squared arms, granulated sheet gold over solid core ornamented with granulated Omega symbols within circular filigrees, an original green glass setting at the center in a high cylindrical bezel. Heavy suspension loop with granulated edges at top, the reverse decorated with chased crosses and dots within a dot border along the arms. A similar example recently sold at Bonhams Sale 16777 - Antiquities, 29 Apr 2009 (Dec. 97, lot 210) for 30,000 GBP. 3 x 4.5 cm. 10.04 g. Very rare. Missing omega and some horn silver deposits at tip of left arm. Quite solid and wearable with care.
Provenance: A private European collection.
7251. A FINE BYZANTINE SILVER RING WITH INSCRIBED MONOGRAM AND TWO CROSSES, c. 7th-8th century AD. 18 x 20 mm internal. Choice wearable condition and very rare this nice.
THE SEAL OF JESUS CHRIST 8030. BYZANTINE BRONZE RING WITH CROSS AND SEAL OF JESUS, c. 5th-6th century. The ring with engraved cross on the ends of which are the letters ICOYC, the Greek form of Jesus. A choice early Christian item! Ring in excellent wearable condition. 18 mm internal diameter.
Provenance: An extensive New Jersey collection, acquired from an established European dealer in the 1990's.
BYZANTINE GLASS
7420. A BYZANTINE WHEEL CUT CHALICE, c. 4th-6th century AD. The stemmed vessel of swirled yellow-green glass with rolled rim, the wide foot criss-crossed with numerous wheel cut lines. 2.75 x 2.75 inches. Rare and in choice condition. Provenance: The collection of a prominent Egyptologist by descent assembled in the early part of the 20th century and brought to the US in 1954 with the family.
7427. BEAUTIFUL SMALL BYZANTINE BOTTLE, c. 4th-6th century AD. The vessel of pale green glass with square cross section downward tapering body, the surface covered with patination much of it iridescent the rest apparently following numerous wheel cut lines. 2.25 inches. Quite pretty. Rare type. Provenance: The collection of a prominent Egyptologist by descent assembled in the early part of the 20th century and brought to the US in 1954 with the family.
7431. MINIATURE BYZANTINE WHEEL-CUT BOTTLE WITH CROSS, c. 5th-7th century AD. The vessel of transparent glass with wheel cut notches on the edges and two wheel cut crosses on the sides. 1 inch. Neck chip. Rare, likely used for carrying holy water from a religious site. Provenance: The collection of a prominent Egyptologist by descent assembled in the early part of the 20th century and brought to the US in 1954 with the family.
BYZANTINE IVORY & BONE
6896. A BYZANTINE BONE PLAQUE OF CHRIST PANTOCRATOR, c. 10th-12th century. Better than image shows. 2.1". Enlargement. Back. Provenance: The collection of A New York entertainer formed in the later part of the 20th century.
6898. A BYZANTINE BONE PLAQUE WITH CHRIST, ca. 10th-12th century. Christ pantocrator holding the Bible in his left hand, his right hand raised against his chest. 1.3 x 2.1 inches. Left edge missing. Excellent detail. Enlargement. Back. Provenance: The collection of A New York entertainer formed in the later part of the 20th century.
6382. A BYZANTINE IVORY CASE AMULET, c. 4th-8th century AD. With twin suspension loops, hollowed out from one end. 2 inches. Wearable with care and would look spectacular on a thin gold chain.
BYZANTINE OIL LAMPS
THE MOTHER OF GOD 9754. RARE BYZANTINE LITURGICAL LAMP WITH EARLY CHRISTIAN INSCRIPTION, ca. 5th-8th century AD. The lamp with 7 wick holes and 2 lines of Greek inscription reading EULOGIA THC QEOTOKOU EPIGRAMA IWANNOU. Anawati erroneously translates this as 'Eulogia of our brother Theotokos, inscription of John' however Theotokos is properly translated as 'mother of God'. 3.5". See Anawati 247 & 248 & Qedem 8, 580 & 581 for similar examples. Very Rare and desirable. The inscription clearer than the photo shows.
Provenance: The Emeritus collection formed by a retired University Vice President from the 1960's through the 1980's.
8765. A BYZANTINE BRONZE CENSER, ca. 5th-8th century. The bronze vessel on wide ring foot with six incised bands, three rings on the rim for 12 inch chain which is complete with top hook but missing 3 bottom hooks. 2.25 x 3.3 inches. Scarce. An excellent and very rare piece. Provenance: The Emeritus collection formed by a retired University Vice President from the 1960's through the 1980's.
EARLY CHRISTIAN SYMBOLISM
12115. EXCEPTIONAL EARLY CHRISTIAN INLAID BUCKLE. Byzantine, 5th-8th centuries AD. Bronze buckle with several paste inlays in yellow, red, and green forming a processional cross on a standard, surrounded by the inscription .K.IEBOM Θ.ITOdM. Two attachments on back. Maximum length: 46mm. Small break at base of buckle and on frontal attachment on back, otherwise a very well preserved specimen. An exceptional and rare early Christian artifact.
Provenance: Ex CNG auction July, 2014.
8163. RARE BYZANTINE BRONZE PLAQUE OR PILGRIM'S BADGE WITH ENGRAVED INSCRIPTION AND CROSS, c. 5th-8th century AD. The large shield-shaped plaque engraved with a central solid cross above a Latin cross with a star to the left, K to the right. An A followed by another Latin cross and an I to the left, an M to the right. Intact original suspension chain at the top. 3.1 x 3.75 inches exclusive of the chain. Rare and interesting. Any additional information on the inscription would be welcomed.
8155. CHOICE BYZANTINE SILVER SPOON WITH CROSS, ladle-type, 7th to 10th century AD, decorated with cross on finial, lovely decorated handle, 150 mm long, 38 g. RARE and fine early Christian art.
8158. A FINE BYZANTINE RELIQUARY CROSS, c. 9th-12th century AD. Christ crucified one side with small cross above, the Virgin orans on the other, swivel suspension loop above. 2.25 inches. Such reliquaries were used to carry relics of Saints and Martyrs, splinters of the true cross and other religious relics. Choice wearable intact unopened example. Provenance: A private New Jersey collection, acquired from a US dealer in the 1990's.
9118. FINE BYZANTINE BRONZE RELIQUARY CROSS, ca. 9th-12th century AD. Christ crucified one side with cross above, the Virgin orans on the other, swivel suspension loop above. 3.25 inches. Such reliquaries were used to carry relics of Saints, Martyrs splinters of 'the true cross' and other religious relics. Choice intact example. Provenance: A private New Jersey collection, acquired from a US dealer in the 1990's.
9752. ORNATE BYZANTINE BRONZE CENSER HANDLE. Israel, ca. 6th-8th century AD. The handle with Christian fish atop, swan below and four coiled serpents. 5.7 inches. Rare and unusual. Found in the Holy Land. On custom stand.
BYZANTINE BRONZE & STONE VESSELS
9771. A BYZANTINE BRONZE VESSEL, ca. 5th-10th century AD. With conical body, high neck and wide pouring rim. 7 x 10 inches. Repaired with seams patched. Rare.
8322. A LARGE BYZANTINE BRONZE BOWL, c. 6th-10th century AD. The broad bowl with a heavy flanged rim. Rim cracks nicely repaired. 5 x 11.5". Scarce.
8323. ORNATE BYZANTINE EARLY MEDIEVAL BRONZE SPOON, c. 5th-8th century. Apothecary or cosmetic spoon with ornate handle. 7.4". Rare this nice. A museum quality example.
8324. HEAVY BYZANTINE BRONZE MORTAR, c. 6th-10th century. With very heavy ribbed body and side loop. 3.2 x 5 inches. Nice example.
8768. A BYZANTINE STONE PYXIS, ca. 7th-11th century. The gray stone vessel of octagonal cross section with cylindrical interior and four abuttments on the quadrants with drilled holes probably to receive a lid, the exterior surface with numerous incised annular designs. 2.5 x 3.5 inches. One side with some lime encrustation. Excellent condition and very rare.
