A circular bifacial gold pendant made in cloisonné technique, on one side the bust of Christ or an apostle with nimbus holding a book, shown in frontal pose, with high forehead, characterful face and short beard, the hand in 'blessing' gesture, Christogram inscription 'IC' 'XC'; on reverse cruciform flower with four petals and central geometric motif; integral wide loop.

PROVENANCE:
From an old Munich collection; acquired on the German art market before 2000.

PUBLISHED:
Accompanied by an Art Loss Register certificate.

LITERATURE:
For similar style of cloisonné enamel see Cormack, R and Vassilaki,M. (eds.) Byzantium, London, 2008, items 52, 54, 199, 188, 201.

FOOTNOTES:
This pieces shows stylistic similarities with an enamel portrait of the apostle Paul dating to the 12th century, held in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. From around the 8th century onwards, Byzantine artists developed and refined the ancient technique of enamelling by using ever-finer wire to create more intricate designs to be filled in. Such pieces took cues from contemporary mosaics in terms of their generous use of gold, and detailed, expressive depictions of the subject's face.