Byzantine Carved Agate Cameo of The Holy Banquet

6TH-8TH CENTURY A.D.

1 1/4 in. (9.95 grams, 32 mm).

Plano-convex in section with low-relief carving: scene with a meal at a so-called sigma table surrounded by Christ, Peter, John and the other disciples; Christ and Peter attending and beardless Saint John the Evangelist preparing the fish.

Provenance

From a North American gentleman's collection, 1990s.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13368-259040.

Literature

Cf. Giugea, G.D. Representations of the Last Supper Scene in Romanian Medieval and Western Renaissance Mural Painting in Proceedings of 11th International Conference on Education & Social Sciences. 22-24 January 2024- Istanbul, Turkey especially fig.1, The Last Supper at Sant’ Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna.

Footnotes

In early Byzantine art, Saint Peter is often depicted as the only figure apart from Christ to be shown with a nimbus, to emphasise his pre-eminent position as a church father and the 'rock' of the church.

CONDITION

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LOT 0195