Reliquary Pendant Cross
| Culture | Byzantine |
|---|---|
| Title | Reliquary Pendant Cross |
| Date | 6th–7th century |
| Medium | Bronze |
| Dimensions | Overall (cross): 3 7/16 × 2 5/16 in. (8.7 × 5.8 cm) Overall (max.): 4 15/16 in. (12.6 cm) |
| Credit Line | Burton Y. Berry Collection, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University |
| Accession Number | 62.117.141 |
| This artwork is currently on view. | |
A pendant reliquary-cross with engraved decoration on both sides. On one side is a standing female figure, and on the other is a bust of a man in a roundel.
Large-scale sculpture and painted icons were created to inspire public devotion in churches. Smaller objects with religious subject matter were made for private homes and—like this example—made to be worn as jewelry. This beautifully crafted cross included a hinged compartment that was intended to contain a sacred relic. This fact, as well as its size and use of a precious metal, indicates that it might have been intended for use on ceremonial occasions.
Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.
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Cite this page
"Reliquary Pendant Cross | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=62.117.141