11th century A.D. A bifacial bronze reliquary cross pendant (enkolpion) comprising two decorative plates, complete hinge below and large suspension loop with decorative ribs above; one face bearing inscription 'IC XC NIKA' ('Jesus Christ conquers'); the other face bearing the inscription '????C ????C K????C' (Saint Saint the Lord); the reverse of each plate recessed, creating space for a relic to be enclosed. See similar typology of enkolpia in Pitarakis, B., Les croix-reliquaires pectorales byzantines en bronze, Paris, 2006, p.384, no.630. 14.9 grams, 55 mm (2 1/8 in.) German art market before 2000. With a European gentleman living in the UK. Property of a Surrey gentleman. The reliquary cross belongs to the type I of the Pitarakis classification. This series of reliquary crosses is characterised by inscriptions incised in relief, and was mainly the product of the workshops in Constantinople (in the areas of the baths of Zeuxippos) and Anatolia.

Fine condition.