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A Byzantine sheet bronze and silver processional cross image 1
A Byzantine sheet bronze and silver processional cross image 2
Lot 105

A Byzantine sheet bronze and silver processional cross

6 July 2021, 15:00 BST
London, New Bond Street

Sold for £5,100 inc. premium

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A Byzantine sheet bronze and silver processional cross
Circa 10th-12th Century A.D.
The arms formed of sheet bronze around an iron core, the flared tips covered in conical polished gilt bronze, with a central gilt copper disc medallion on the front and back secured by a domed pin, with punched repoussé decorated borders and figures including the figure of Christ enthroned on the upper arm, the lateral arms each decorated with a rosette, the lower arm with a repoussé saint, the reverse applied with a shorter silver sheet cross with punch decorated borders, with the figures of Christ on the upper arm, the Virgin Orans on the lower arm, and angels on the lateral arms, 39cm high, 23.2cm across

Footnotes

Provenance:
with Korban Ltd., London, June 1989.

For a sheet brass cross of similar size and date see D. Buckton (ed.), Byzantium. Treasures of Byzantine Art and Culture, London, 1994, p.148, no. 161. Such crosses were carried on feast days such as Palm Sunday and the Elevation of the Cross, and when not in use may have been displayed in church. These processional crosses were designed to be seen by the faithful from both the front and back.

Additional information

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