Christ Blessing thumbnail 1
Christ Blessing thumbnail 2
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images
On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Christ Blessing

Pendant
886-912 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Istanbul (made)

Byzantine cameos were made in good numbers between the 10th and 12th centuries in a variety of semi-precious stones. Many showed standard images of Christ or the Virgin, familiar from coins and other media, or depicted particularly popular saints. They were often set into pendants or other items of jewellery, and being easily portable several came to be inserted into western book covers and reliquaries.

Object details

Categories
Sculpture
Personal Accessories
Jewellery
Religion
Christianity
Object type
Pendant
TitleChrist Blessing (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Jasper
Jasper
Brief description
Cameo pendant, jasper, of Christ blessing, an inscription referring to Emperor Leo VI is on the reverse, Byzantine (Constantinople), late 9th or early 10th century
Physical description
Cameo pendant, jasper, of Christ blessing. On the reverse is an inscription referring to the Emperor Leo VI (886-912).
Dimensions
  • Height: 6.4cm
  • Width: 3.3cm
  • Depth: 0.6cm
Measured for Medieval and Renaissance Galleries 2006
Style
Byzantine
Subjects depicted
Crosses
Jesus Christ
Summary
Byzantine cameos were made in good numbers between the 10th and 12th centuries in a variety of semi-precious stones. Many showed standard images of Christ or the Virgin, familiar from coins and other media, or depicted particularly popular saints. They were often set into pendants or other items of jewellery, and being easily portable several came to be inserted into western book covers and reliquaries.
Bibliographic references
  • P. Williamson (ed.), European Sculpture at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1996, p. 38
  • Kornblatt, G. 'Ein Karolingischer Kameo am Dreikönigensehrein im Kölner Dom'. Kölner Domblatt. XXVI. 1997. pp.134-37. fig. 26, 29.
  • Popovich, Ljnbiea D. 'Byzantine Cameos with Arched Tops: a Question of Purpose' in Abstracts of the First Annual Byzantine Studies Conference. Cleveland. 24-25 October 175, 43-44.
  • Verdier, P. 'Dominus Potens in Praelio' Wallraf- Richartz Jahrbuch XLIII. 1982. p.76.
  • Williamson, Paul. The Medieval Treasury. London. Victoria and Albert Museum. 1986. pp.86-7.
  • Evans, Helen C & Wixom, William D (ed.), The Glory of Byzantium; art and culture of the Middle Byzantine era A.D. 843-1261, Metropolitan Museum, New York, 1997
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
A.21-1932

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Record createdFebruary 25, 2004
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O93842/christ-blessing-pendant-unknown/
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