Byzantine Beautiful Square Weight – Engraved Details, Later Adapted as a Pendant – ca. 5th–7th Century AD (No reserve price)

A piece of the past, created to be carried

Beautiful Byzantine Square Weight – Engraved Details, Later Adapted as a Pendant – Very Well-Preserved Collector’s Piece – ca. 5th–7th Century AD

Culture: Byzantine
Period: Byzantine Period
Date: ca. 5th–7th century AD
Material: Metal alloy

Dimensions
Height: 15.26 mm ±
Width: 15.52 mm ±
Depth: 4.98 mm ±
Weight: 9.80 g ±

Description

Distinguished by its approximately square body, substantial thickness and rounded edges, this Byzantine weight bears three pronounced vertical recesses within a surrounding engraved arrangement. The reverse is undecorated. Dark brown patina, coppery surface tones and localized greenish oxidation emphasize its textured surface.

In Byzantine weighing practices, standard balance weights were used to determine the mass of goods. The Latin term pondus — weight — provides historical terminology for the object’s original function.

At a market stall in the Byzantine world, the moment when the two pans of a balance reached equilibrium was a defining part of a transaction. Small metal weights of this kind represented a standard of measurement in everyday commerce. From an archaeological perspective, the piece offers a tangible window into the period’s economic life and weighing practices.

The secondary suspension hole near the upper edge and the added connecting ring document the object’s second phase of use: an item once employed for weighing was subsequently transformed into a personal ornament. Its very well-preserved body and distinct surface markings make it an engaging collector’s piece for those interested in Byzantine daily life and the history of metrology.

Note

Warm lighting inspired by museum illumination was used to naturally highlight the object’s surface, form, craftsmanship and historical appearance. Suspension cords and other display accessories visible in the photographs serve as presentation aids and are not included in the sale.

★ Please refer to the stated measurements when assessing the actual size. Objects of different dimensions may appear at a similar scale in photographs, so their apparent size in an image does not, by itself, reflect their physical dimensions.

All shipments are fully insured. Differences in shipping charges for certain countries reflect the varying costs of insured delivery to each destination. A printed copy of the Cultural and Iconographic Assessment Certificate can be prepared if requested before dispatch.

Information

The acquisition history of this piece traces back to an auction associated with A.N. Auction House in Germany. The object was acquired in 2026 and transferred to us that same year by its previous owner, N.A., based in the Netherlands.

Archaeological assessment considers material, form and symbols alongside the known find context, comparative examples in museum collections and academic publications. These sources form the basis for evaluation by experienced museum specialists and archaeologists.

Descriptions of period, function, symbolic meaning and material likewise constitute academic assessments supported by typological comparisons and expert opinion. Appropriate advanced laboratory analyses may help clarify specific questions concerning material, manufacture and dating; such scientific examinations are conducted separately from, and beyond the scope of, the sales process.

The object has been documented using high-resolution equipment. No intervention has been made to its form or structural integrity; image editing has been restricted to limited color-balance adjustments.

Museum-standard technical photographs can be provided upon request while the auction is ongoing. An expert assessment report and a signed ownership document issued in the buyer’s name can also be supplied in PDF format within 3–5 business days, provided they are requested before shipment.

Scholarly consistency, transparency and good faith are observed throughout the presentation and sales process. No object known to be a copy or imitation is offered for sale.