Massive silver Darkage Encolpion cross, Lombards. 7th.-8th. cent.
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Directory: Antiques: Regional Art: Ancient World: Byzantine: Pre AD 1000: Item # 1488455
Directory: Antiques: Regional Art: Ancient World: Byzantine: Pre AD 1000: Item # 1488455
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Interesting solid silver Encolpion cross with loop Early European, probably Lombard Kingdom, c. 7th.-8th. century.
The cross engraved with a standing nimbate figure holding a crucifix in his left hand, and on the reberse another small nimbate figure; No less than four Cross pattées, and the symbols of the Sun and the Moon on the reverse as well.
A Byzantine type, but a very unusual decoration which points to Darkage Europe and probably the Kingdom of the Lombards, who invented and used the Cross pattée extensively in the period. The use of Encolpions spread to Western Europe in the 1st. millenium AD and particularly Interesting on the proposed Lombard provenance, we know that the pope St. Gregory the Great (590-604) actually sent an encolpion to the Lombard Queen Theodolinda for her son Adaloald, which was said to contain a portion of the True Cross.
Size: 9 cm. tall and c. 4 cm. wide, thick silver weighing 71,8 grams!
Condition: Choice and intact, nice dark patina.
Ex. German Private Collection.
The cross engraved with a standing nimbate figure holding a crucifix in his left hand, and on the reberse another small nimbate figure; No less than four Cross pattées, and the symbols of the Sun and the Moon on the reverse as well.
A Byzantine type, but a very unusual decoration which points to Darkage Europe and probably the Kingdom of the Lombards, who invented and used the Cross pattée extensively in the period. The use of Encolpions spread to Western Europe in the 1st. millenium AD and particularly Interesting on the proposed Lombard provenance, we know that the pope St. Gregory the Great (590-604) actually sent an encolpion to the Lombard Queen Theodolinda for her son Adaloald, which was said to contain a portion of the True Cross.
Size: 9 cm. tall and c. 4 cm. wide, thick silver weighing 71,8 grams!
Condition: Choice and intact, nice dark patina.
Ex. German Private Collection.
