BYZANTINE BRONZE RELIQUARY CROSS WITH CRUCIFIX

Ca. AD 900 - 1100 A Byzantine portable reliquary consisting of two crosses that fit together and a large loop for suspension. The front cross is incised with busts of saints at the top of each arm and an angel in the centre. The back side shows the main scene of the Crucifixion. While the cross was once able to be opened to hold a small relic or a prayer document, both halves have fused over time. Reliquaries were central to Byzantine religious practices, serving as focal points for veneration and pilgrimage. They were highly esteemed within the Byzantine Church and carried significant spiritual importance for believers. For similar see: The Metropolitan Museum of Art Accession Number: 2018.870.3.
Size: 95mm x 50mm; Weight: 85g
Provenance: Private UK collection, acquired on the Belgian art market. This item has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database and comes with a confirmation letter.

Estimate: GBP 750 - 1500