Byzantine Bronze Hanger with Chi Rho and Cross

Shallow piriform bowl attached to a stepped baluster, hexagonal-section handle with spike finial; engraved cross potent to either side of the junction. 46 grams, 22.7 cm



French private collection. Acquired on the French art market in 2011. Acquired by the present owner at the above. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12240-222347.

The lateral incised cross motifs suggest that the spoon may have had a liturgical purpose, possibly associated with baptism.

A mixed group of silver-gilt liturgical items comprising: a hanging lamp with flared foot, carinated segmented body, flared neck with band of repoussé quatrefoils and florets, rolled rim, three suspension chains with loops and hook; a hollow piriform finial, possibly from a throne or a standard finial, with ropework collar and vertical tendril bands with pellets alternating with plain segments; a two-part vestment clasp set, each half formed as a parcel-gilt scallop shell with flared rim and pierced trapezoidal plaque, hook-and-eye hinge. 201 grams total, 90-110mm

Very fine condition.

Property of a Surrey gentleman; formerly from the private collection of a Canadian gentleman; from his father's collection formed 1965-1990; accompanied by an archaeological report by Dr. Raffaele D’Amato, Art Loss Register certificate numbers S001261511, S001261512 & S001261513, dated 5 September 2017 and a copy of a photograph taken prior to professional cleaning; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no. 10373-167792.

Hanging lamps, of different dimensions, were used to create the spiritual atmosphere surrounding the Divine Liturgy. Light was important not only from a practical point of view but also symbolically. The parcel gilt flask, if not the finial of a throne, episcopal chair or church labarum (standard), could be a miniature version of a large ceramic oil or wine container with a pointed base for setting them in sand at the cargo hold of a ship, and was probably used as a small flask for myrrh, the liturgical oil. The ornamented wreath border between shoulder and neck of the finial is a typical Byzantine decoration in the workshops active in the Imperial capital of Constantinople, as attested on a vase in the same ornament and style preserved in the Louvre collections (RGZM, 2010, p.173).

D-shaped cabochon garnet set in a gold cell with wire dangle beneath. 1.05 grams, 24 mm



From a late Japanese specialist collector, 1970-2000s.