Byzantine, 7th-8th Century, Pectoral Cross With Chain. Photo courtesy Sotheby's

gold, the obverse of the cross with a raised oval collet set with a garnet at the intersection of the arms cross: 76mm., 3in. including suspension loopchain overall: 54.5cm., 21½in. Estimate 20,000-30,000 GBP

PROVENANCE: Czech private collection, since the early 1980s

NOTE: Another solid gold cross with a similar bezel and suspension loop is in the collection at Dumbarton Oaks, Washington D.C. (inv. no. 58.39). The faceted arms can also be found on a nielloed example in the British Museum, London (inv.no. PE AF 355).

RELATED LITERATURE: M. C. Ross, Catalogue of the Byzantine and Early Medieval Antiquities in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection, cat.
Dumbarton Oaks Collection, Washington, 1965, p. 137, no. 179I, pl. XCVII; R. Cormack and M. Vassilaki (eds.),
Byzantium 330-1453, exh. cat. Royal Academy of Arts, London, 2008, pp. 224-225 and p. 428, no. 193

Sotheby's. European Sculpture & Works of Art: Medieval to Modern. London | 02 juil. 2013 www.sothebys.com