Byzantine Bronze Enkolpion Reliquary Cross

£ 550.00

A fine and complete Byzantine bronze reliquary cross, known as enkolpion. The cross is decorated in high relief with stylised images typical of Christian iconography in the period. One side depicts a crucified Christ, wearing a collobium (a sleeveless or short-sleeved garment) with two clavi (bands), an iconographic type established in the early Christian centuries. His arms are outstretched upon the cross and his head slightly drooping to the side. His facial features are slightly worn, though his eyes, nose and lips can still be made out. A plain tablet, in the shape of a cross, is above his head. On the other side, a stylised image of a Saint in the typical orant prayer pose, or possibly Christ giving a blessing, is featured. Their hands are raised, and they are dressed in a long robe, with a headcovering. Their eyes and nose can still be made out on their face. There is a barrel-shaped suspension loop at the top and a hinged base at the bottom, with pins still intact in both.

Date: Circa 10th - 12th Century AD
Provenance: From the K.A. Collection, France
Condition: Excellent condition. A beautiful dark green patina has developed to the surface. The piece is complete and intact, with the pins still in the hinge and suspension loop, which can move freely.
Product Code: BS-43
Categories: , Tags: , , ,

Enkolpia were small pendants worn around the neck, with examples found dating back to Late Antiquity. The cross shape was the most popular symbol for such amulets, as a symbol of Christianity, believed to have apotropaic qualities. Many enkolpia were designed to hold reliquaries, as can be seen here by the opening function of the pendant. The reliquary was believed to work in tandem with the talismanic qualities of the cross-shape to protect the wearer from harm and evil. Not all reliquary enkolpia held primary relics such as a piece of the True Cross or a bone of a Saint, but likely held secondary relics, for example, earth from a holy site, locks of hair, or cloth touched by a saint. They were made in an assortment of materials, from gold and silver, to bronze and lead. Worn as a talisman and a symbol of the owner’s faith, such pieces were very popular in Byzantium, providing an intimate look at the material culture of piety in the Byzantine Empire. 

To learn more about Byzantine crosses, please visit our relevant blog post: Enkolpion Crosses in the Byzantine Empire.

Weight 27.6 g
Dimensions L 7.6 x W 3.1 cm
Region

Southern Europe

Metal

Bronze

Christian Ideology

Christ

Reference: For a similar item, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, item 61.1092a-b

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