Byzantine Bronze Rare Stamp Seal – Sacred Christ-Style Portrait – Magnificent Patina – Collector's Piece (No reserve price)
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Current bid
€ 30
No reserve price
Expert
Selected by Ruth Garrido Vila
Directed the Ifergan Collection Museum, specialising in Phoenician and Mediterranean archaeology.
Estimate € 200 - € 250
 | €30 | |
|---|---|---|
 | €25 | |
| €20 | |
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This Byzantine bronze stamp seal, dated to around the 9th–12th century AD, has an engraved frontal sacred-style bust, an integral suspension loop and a deep-green patina.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
A piece of the past, made to be worn
Beautiful Byzantine Bronze Stamp Seal – Sacred Christ-Style Portrait – Magnificent Patina – Collector's Piece
Object Type: Personal Stamp Seal / Suspension Seal
Culture: Byzantine / Eastern Christian
Period: Middle Byzantine Tradition
Date Range: ca. 9th–12th Century AD
Material: Bronze / Copper Alloy
Technique: Cast, Incised Figural Engraving
-Cultural and Iconographic Assessment Certificate: available upon request before shipment (PDF format)
-All shipments are sent fully insured
-During photography, a warm-toned lighting setup reminiscent of museum display illumination was used to emphasize the object's surface details and historic character in a natural manner.
-The suspension cords, connecting rings, and other display accessories shown in the photographs are used solely for presentation purposes and are not part of the object.
Dimensions
Height: 21.65 mm ±
Width: 8.90 mm ±
Depth: 8.76 mm ±
Weight: 3.83 g
Description
This beautiful Byzantine-style bronze stamp seal features a distinctive rectangular matrix engraved with a frontal sacred-looking bust, characterised by prominent eyes, an elongated face and carefully incised drapery.
The composition recalls the solemn visual language of Byzantine Christian iconography, particularly the stylised representations of Christ encountered in medieval devotional metalwork and personal seals.
Comparable traditions are represented by Christ-bearing Byzantine seals in the British Museum and by the celebrated sacred portraiture preserved in the Dumbarton Oaks Byzantine Collection.
The carefully modelled stepped shank terminates in a substantial integral suspension loop, reflecting the practical construction of portable personal seals.
A magnificent deep-green patina, enriched by contrasting earthy mineral deposits, covers the bronze surface while preserving the principal engraved details.
Combining miniature portraiture, distinctive craftsmanship and remarkable archaeological character, this compact object offers an appealing example of Byzantine-style personal metalwork.
Information
The offered object was acquired in 2026 through an auction associated with A.N. Auction House in Germany and was transferred to us in 2026 by its previous owner, N.A., based in the Netherlands
The object has been documented using high-resolution equipment; no intervention has been made to its form or structural integrity, and only limited color-balance adjustment has been applied.
Upon request, museum-standard technical photographs may be provided during the auction; if requested prior to shipment, an expert report and a signed ownership document issued in the buyer’s name can be supplied in PDF format within 3–5 business days
Statements regarding dating, function, symbolic interpretation, and material identification represent high-probability academic assessments based on typological comparisons, parallels in museum collections, and expert opinion; definitive conclusions require advanced laboratory analysis and fall outside the scope of the platform’s sales process.
Prospective buyers are advised to evaluate the images in conjunction with the stated measurements, as high-resolution photography may influence perceived scale. Throughout the presentation and sales process, principles of scholarly consistency, transparency, and good faith are observed, and no object is knowingly offered as a copy or imitation.
A piece of the past, made to be worn
Beautiful Byzantine Bronze Stamp Seal – Sacred Christ-Style Portrait – Magnificent Patina – Collector's Piece
Object Type: Personal Stamp Seal / Suspension Seal
Culture: Byzantine / Eastern Christian
Period: Middle Byzantine Tradition
Date Range: ca. 9th–12th Century AD
Material: Bronze / Copper Alloy
Technique: Cast, Incised Figural Engraving
-Cultural and Iconographic Assessment Certificate: available upon request before shipment (PDF format)
-All shipments are sent fully insured
-During photography, a warm-toned lighting setup reminiscent of museum display illumination was used to emphasize the object's surface details and historic character in a natural manner.
-The suspension cords, connecting rings, and other display accessories shown in the photographs are used solely for presentation purposes and are not part of the object.
Dimensions
Height: 21.65 mm ±
Width: 8.90 mm ±
Depth: 8.76 mm ±
Weight: 3.83 g
Description
This beautiful Byzantine-style bronze stamp seal features a distinctive rectangular matrix engraved with a frontal sacred-looking bust, characterised by prominent eyes, an elongated face and carefully incised drapery.
The composition recalls the solemn visual language of Byzantine Christian iconography, particularly the stylised representations of Christ encountered in medieval devotional metalwork and personal seals.
Comparable traditions are represented by Christ-bearing Byzantine seals in the British Museum and by the celebrated sacred portraiture preserved in the Dumbarton Oaks Byzantine Collection.
The carefully modelled stepped shank terminates in a substantial integral suspension loop, reflecting the practical construction of portable personal seals.
A magnificent deep-green patina, enriched by contrasting earthy mineral deposits, covers the bronze surface while preserving the principal engraved details.
Combining miniature portraiture, distinctive craftsmanship and remarkable archaeological character, this compact object offers an appealing example of Byzantine-style personal metalwork.
Information
The offered object was acquired in 2026 through an auction associated with A.N. Auction House in Germany and was transferred to us in 2026 by its previous owner, N.A., based in the Netherlands
The object has been documented using high-resolution equipment; no intervention has been made to its form or structural integrity, and only limited color-balance adjustment has been applied.
Upon request, museum-standard technical photographs may be provided during the auction; if requested prior to shipment, an expert report and a signed ownership document issued in the buyer’s name can be supplied in PDF format within 3–5 business days
Statements regarding dating, function, symbolic interpretation, and material identification represent high-probability academic assessments based on typological comparisons, parallels in museum collections, and expert opinion; definitive conclusions require advanced laboratory analysis and fall outside the scope of the platform’s sales process.
Prospective buyers are advised to evaluate the images in conjunction with the stated measurements, as high-resolution photography may influence perceived scale. Throughout the presentation and sales process, principles of scholarly consistency, transparency, and good faith are observed, and no object is knowingly offered as a copy or imitation.
Details
Culture
Byzantine
Century/timeframe
ca. 9th–12th Century AD
Name of object
Rare Stamp Seal – Sacred Christ-Style Portrait – Magnificent Patina – Collector's Piece
Acquired from
Private collection
Year acquired
1996
Material
Bronze
Country acquired from
Germany
Condition
Excellent
Previous owner acquired from
Antique market
Previous owner - year acquired
2026
Previous owner - country acquired from
Germany
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
Disclaimer
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
