Byzantine Gold Cross With Garnet Pendant c.600 A.D.

A remarkable condition and exceptionally beautiful Byzantine Cruciform pendant c.600 A.D.

The cross pedant is created from hollowed tubes of a soft brushed gold, centrally there is a deeply coloured rich garnet stone which catches the light. Terminating each arm of the cross is a double banded collar with a fine gold granule.

The cross pendant was worn by the devotee as a necklace. The original gold suspension loop now makes it a very wearable wonderful piece, on either the modern chain seen here, or a rustic cord as it would probably been worn in its earlier life.

During the Byzantine period, the cross was one of the symbols both sides agreed were acceptable within the church during and after the Iconoclast Controversy between 726 and 843 A.D. As strange as it must seem to us today, this difference of opinion on Church doctrine almost brought down the Byzantine Empire. The argument centred around the use of Iconography for worship within the Byzantine Empire.

Now to be worn and treasured as a outstandingly beautiful piece of Byzantine art and history.

Property of a London collector, previously in a private Swiss collection since the 1980s.

Chain total length 50cm. Cross height 4cm, width 3cm, depth 0.5cm.

For similar see the British Museum Collection No. 1949,1007.8 Cross Pendant Early Byzantine 7th Century.