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_900x900.jpg "Byzantine Silver Offering Dish with Chi Rho and Inscription")
_200x200.jpg "Byzantine Silver Offering Dish with Chi Rho and Inscription")
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LOT 0989
Byzantine Silver Offering Dish with Chi Rho and Inscription
CIRCA 11TH-12TH CENTURY A.D.
9 1/4 in. (395 grams, 23.5 cm wide).
With rounded underside and flange rim; tondo with incised symmetrical vinescroll with bunches of grapes enclosing central disc with niello-filled Chi Rho flanked by alpha and omega; legend to the rim in capitals: '+++ ΥΠΕΡ ΑΝΑΠΑΥϹΕΩϹ ΕΥΧΗϹ ΟΝ ΟΙΔΕΝ ΟΘϹ ΤΑ ΟΝΟΜΑΤΑ' (For the eternal rest of him who had knowledge in the name of the Lord).
ProvenanceFrom a European family collection formed in the 1990s; thence by descent to a UK gentleman.
Accompanied by an academic report of Dr. Raffaele D’Amato
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11963-210867.
Cf. similar item of an earlier date in the British Museum, London, under accession no. 1899,0425.1; Aimone, M., The Wyvnern collection, Byzantine and Sasanian Silver, Enamels and Works of Art, London, 2020, figs.43a-b-c.
FootnotesThe decorative apparatus of this plate could be associated with Eastern Roman art of the 11-12th century A.D., although we cannot exclude an earlier dating.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0989
Byzantine Silver Offering Dish with Chi Rho and Inscription
Estimate £20,000 - 30,000€23,200 - 34,800 (for guidance only)$27,000 - 40,500 (for guidance only)
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Byzantine Bronze Trade Weight Collection
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Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
Piriform body decorated from concentric circles, with domed filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 1.01 kg, 15 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. Accompanied by an academic paper by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato, dated 15 July 2019 and titled 'Eastern Roman Empire - Greek Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade (μεσαίον kακάβιον) 9th-11th century AD'.
Apart from the use of siphons or manual flame-throwers called cheirosiphona, special corps of Roman soldiers employed terracotta grenades, in the form of small jars, abundantly evidenced in archaeological excavations. They were called μεσαία kακαβιά or κυτροκακάβια where the former had a bulbous shape and the latter a more cylindrical form.
