Byzantine Marble Table Top with Roundels

6TH-7TH CENTURY A.D.

40 in. (87 kg, 102 cm including wall bracket).

Broad stone disc with band of carved roundels to the border, dished central panel; the border comprising seventeen socket roundels with rosette and tendril ornament between, each roundel with reserved figural or emblematic ornament: an equal-arm cross with ivy leaves in the spandrels; to either side of this, a reserved regardant peacock; next to these, in pairs a calf's forequarters on each side; next, a goat, then a bull, then a regardant bird, a ram, a lamb and a peacock, remains of original pigment; reinforced with a steel backing and claws; accompanied by professionally made 'lift-on' wall brackets for display.

Provenance

Acquired in London from a UK collector in the early 2000s.
Previously with an Austrian collector in London.
Formerly in a North American collection.
From a London gentleman, 2000s.

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.12400-226356

Literature

A parallel for the piece is in the Wyvern Collection.

Footnotes

The beasts have symbolic importance, such as the peacock for resurrection, the lamb as the 'lamb of god', and so on.

CONDITION

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LOT 0199