Byzantine Bronze Buckle Plate with Man and Beast

Rectangular in plan with central recessed Christian cross, small recessed cross within a square to centre, pouring channel above; circular recess to each corner; soapstone. 163 grams, 67 mm



Acquired on the London art market, 1960s-1980s. Ex Hertfordshire, UK collector. The Kusmirek Collection, UK.

Comprising two narrow hinged plates and articulated suspension loop with two vertical ribs; obverse with Jesus on the cross, dressed in a long robe with standing Virgin and Saint John on his side, Greek inscription 'ἴδε ὁ υἱός σου.Ἰδοὺ ἡ μήτηρ σου' (John 19:27-28: 'Here is your son. Here is your mother') under the arms; titulum, the sun and the moon above; on the tabula ansata of the titulum a Greek inscription 'Χ fur XΡΙΣΤΟΣ'; reverse with Theotokos (Mother of God) in orans pose and the four busts of the evangelists, at the four arms of the cross. 82 grams, 83 mm



Acquired on the German art market around 2000. From the collection of Surrey, UK, gentleman.

This enkolpion is a beautiful example of the type of pendant cross widespread in the 11th-12th centuries. Many variants of enkolpia reflected the new artistic fashions in vogue at Byzantium, influenced by the political and artistic vigour of the Macedonian dynasty. This enkolpion corresponds to type I of the Pitarakis classification.

Of cylindrical form adorned with gold bulbs to both openings, each adorned with pyramid granules, the body formed with three bands of filigree ropework framing two tiers of plain filigree 'waves'. 0.22 grams, 13 mm



Acquired 1970-2010. From the collection of a late Japanese gentleman.