Byzantine Gold Ring with Cross

Featuring a pedestal foot; the bust carved to one face, holding a globus cruciger in one hand, crosses and annulets in left and right fields, a horizontal register of concentric roundels to the opposite face. 49.7 grams, 59 mm



From a Paris gallery, French collection pre 1978.

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.

Flat-section hoop displaying geometric pierced work between raised bands, fluted hemispherical bezel adorned with granules and set with a polished cabochon sapphire. 8.66 grams, 33.78 mm overall, 16.94 mm internal diameter (approximate size British M 1/2, USA 6 1/4, Europe 13.09, Japan 13)



Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.201084.