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Byzantine bronze processional cross holder

€4,930
available
Object number
AR3061
Object: Support for a processional cross

Material: Massive bronze with cold-work

Date: 11th - 12th century A.D.
Middle Byzantine Period, Constantinople or Asia Minor workshop

Description:    Massive processional cross holder with high tubular shaft into which originally a wooden hold was inserted. The shape of the holder is based on the church architecture of the Middle Byzantine period: The church building is two-tiered with almost square cross-section. The lower floor has four and the upper floor three high key-hole windows to each side. High gable roof, top floor with one window to each side. The processional cross was originally inserted into a massive chimney-shaped structure with square cross-section on top of the roof.
Richly decorated with palm leaves, stars, dot- and line engravings.

Size: Height 175 mm, width 52 mm

Condition: Excellent condition, beautiful patina, worth the exhibition in a museum. Perfect preservation even of minor cold bronze work details. Small hole at the lower end, probably antique. With modern acrylic glass base.

Reference: For a cross support also shaped as a church building, but with much larger windows and different decoration, see M. Comstock & C. Vermeule, Greek, Etruscan & Roman Bronzes in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts (Boston 1971) Nr. 645

Provenance: Acquired 2020 at a Swiss auction house. Prom the collection of the Basel art dealer and one of the founders of the Antikenmuseum Basel Christoph Bernoulli (1897-1981, thence by descent in the family), acquired before 1963.

Authenticity: We unconditionally guarantee the authenticity of every artefact, all items are subject to our lifetime return policy on authenticity.