Byzantine Bronze Reliquary Cross Plate

Fragment of a fresco panel depicting a group of young women wearing crowns, possibly depicting queens or wise virgins, three in the foreground with suggestion of others behind them; a vertical line to the left marking the border of the painting; two outer women's eyes turning towards a point high on the right, and the middle one lowering her eyes; wearing clothes richly decorated with precious stones and pearls, and crowns consisting of a band encrusted with gems and bordered with pearls, topped with points adorned with coloured stones in the style of Western European crowns. 5.08 kg, 40 x 40 cm



Acquired in the early 1980s. Ex old German private collection. From the private collection of Mr S.A., before 1992. Thence by descent. Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate no.PHO00064. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12115-218166.

This painting possibly comes from a representation of the Last Judgment including the representation of the crowned men and women mentioned in the Apocalypse (chapter IV, verse 4). The crowned women present the signs of adoration specific to this type of representation, their eyes turned or lowered as a sign of respect towards a point where Christ seated on a throne was painted in glory. Perhaps attributable to the Balkans in the 14th century, a region divided among the realms of Hungary, Venice, Greater Serbia and others. Another possibility is that the panel represents the five wise virgins of the parable of Matthew 25, who are crowned brides by Christ.

The hollow-formed, tongue-shaped body adorned with a filigree border, repoussé figure with pellets on the torso and serpents framing the head. 7.40 grams, 39 mm



Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection.

The beautiful horsemen burials found in the Avar necropolis of central Europe date to the last third of the 7th century A.D. and the early 8th century A.D. show wealth and pomp. This type of belt elements, although present in the Avar graves, were most likely produced in the workshops of the Eastern Roman Empire, from where they reached the Avar lands as imperial gifts or spoils of war. They could be simple fastenings for belts, or part of multiple belts, to which sabres and knives were attached, commonly used among Avars, Bulgars and Romans during the 6th -7th centuries A.D.

Comprising a flat-section body and integral suspension loop, Greek inscription to the upper face. 3.74 grams, 32 mm



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of Surrey, UK, gentleman.