Rare byzantine lamp holder - ex Bonhams London, identical piece on exhibition at MET Museum
€5,500
available
Object number
AR3123
| Object: |
Polycandelon (byzantine flat hanging oil lamp)
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| Material: |
Massive bronze
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| Date: |
5th - 7th century A.D. Byzantine |
| Description: |
Large flat byzantine hanging lamp, so-called Polycandelon. Openwork disc consisting of twelve bars, six of which have with crosses at the center and alternating circular and penannular shapes to the outer rim. Three suspension lugs, thereof one broken. Suspender in floral shape, with three long chains, two of which are decorated with 3 crosses each and one with two crosses. Massive hook at the suspender, small hook at the end of each chain.
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| Size: |
Diameter 25.5cm - 26.5cm. Height when hanging 47cm. Weight 1100 gramm.
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| Condition: |
Excellent condition. Very well preserved bronze with nice patina. One of the three suspension lugs broken and missing, however, the hook of the chain can be fixed to the discus to suspend the Polycandelon. One of the lamp holders broken but stable. Chains in perfect condition, the discus slightly bent.
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| Reference: |
An almost identical Polycandelon (only the chain decoration differs) is on exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Ney York City with the Accession No. 2002.483.7, see also: H. C. Evans, M. Holcomb and R. Hallman, The Arts of Byzantium. The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, n.s., 58, no. 4 (Spring 2001) pp. 28–29. |
| Provenance: |
Acquired 2020 at a UK auction house. Ex US - British private collection (New York City, London). Ex Bonhams London (New Bond Street), May 01, 2013, auction, lot 254. Ex European private collection, acquired in the 1980s.
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| Authenticity: |
We unconditionally guarantee the authenticity of every artefact, all items are subject to our lifetime return policy on authenticity.
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