Byzantine Lead Pilgrim's Holy Water Ampulla

Comprising tongue-shaped plaque with three low-relief busts within scrollwork; two pierced lugs on the reverse. 13.5 grams, 40 mm



From a 1990s collection. Property of an Essex gentleman.

The type belongs to the group of buckles with internal clipeus, according to Baldini-Lippolis. The ‘clipei’ of the belt buckles with figurative motifs show a rather summary rendering of the subjects, which were mainly created by impressing and engraving. Our buckle has a notable parallel with a similar specimen from Baltimore, with a bust of Christ on the clipeus.

Of hemispherical form with broad everted rim, shallow fluting to the lower body. 603 grams, 15 cm wide



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

Divided into six sections by Christogram letters chi and rho, two of the segments with Greek letters alpha and omega, the other four segments with floral ornaments; a laurel wreath to the edge; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 84 kg total, 77 cm high including stand



From a German collection. Acquired from Germany in 2010. Ex London, UK, collection. 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 search certificate number no.11928-209561.

This monumental sculpture was probably affixed at the top of a church façade, a type of decoration also used in the Western Romanesque art during the Middle Ages (see the sculpted Chi Rho monogram at the Monastery of San Juan de la Pena, Spain). The presence of letters alpha and omega shows a powerful link with the Christian cult, especially as the two letters are incised beside the Chi Rho. These letters are symbols of eternity of Jesus: in the final verses of the Bible, Jesus describes himself as the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End (Revelation, 22.13).