LOT 0177

Byzantine Stone Carving of Saint Peter

6TH-7TH CENTURY A.D.

4 in. (4 1/2 in.) (103 grams, 10.4 cm (132 grams total, 11.7 cm including stand)).

Rectangular marble panel with half-round figure of standing Saint Peter between two columns, holding ring with three keys and scroll in one hand, inscription 'ΠΕTPOC' to the upper right corner; finely carved low-relief cross with wide arms to the reverse; repaired and mounted on a custom-made display stand.

with The Bactria Corp., NYC, USA, 1970s.
Private collection, New York, USA.
with Arte Primitivo, New York, USA, 17 March 2021, no.619 ($9,920.00).
Private collection, London, UK.

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.12839-240781.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Cf. for similar icon Wamser, L., Die Welt von Byzanz - Europas Östliches Erbe, München, 2004, item 869.

The relief shows similarities with scenes from sarcophagi made in Constantinople, which depict miracles of Christ witnessed by the Apostles, especially Saint Peter. In particular, due to its similarity to fragments of a sarcophagus from Leontopolis but carved in Byzantium, the scene may depict the healing of the blind man of Jericho, with Peter witnessing the miracles performed by Jesus.