後羅馬時期／前拜占庭時期 青銅色 罕见的医疗与梳理工具 – Phylaktērion Protective Ornament – 弯曲尖端 – 大约公元6世纪至8世纪 (沒有保留價)

过去的一角，被制成佩戴物

Rare Byzantine Bronze Medical & Grooming Instrument – Phylaktērion Protective Ornament – Curved Point – ca. 6th–8th Century AD

Object: Suspended Personal-Care Instrument / Pointed Probe
Culture: Byzantine – Eastern Mediterranean Tradition
Period: Early Byzantine Period
Date: ca. 6th–8th Century AD
Material: Metal Alloy, Probably Bronze
Technique: Metalworking, Incised Linear Decoration and Punched-Dot Ornamentation
Decoration: Elongated Foliate Medallion, Dense Dotted Central Field, Curvilinear Borders and Tapering Point
Iconography: Stylised Grain-Ear or Seed Motif / Phylaktērion – Protective Symbolic Association

-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: 73.81 mm ±
Width: 18.10 mm ±
Weight: 5.20 g ±

Description
A remarkable Byzantine-period metal-alloy instrument distinguished by its exceptionally slender curved terminal, prominent oval decorative body and intricately arranged geometric ornamentation.

The elongated composition combines a functional pointed implement with an ornamental upper section. A carefully formed suspension loop permits the object to be carried or worn, while the gently curving terminal recalls the fine grooming and probing instruments employed throughout Late Antique and Byzantine society.

The central medallion displays a striking elongated foliate composition filled with closely arranged punched dots, framed by elegant curving lines and smaller circular motifs. Its design evokes a stylised ear of grain or seed-bearing plant, offering an expressive visual association with vitality, nourishment and renewal.

Within Byzantine material culture, portable protective objects were associated with the Greek concept of phylaktērion (φυλακτήριον), referring to an amulet or object of protection. The present instrument's decorative composition offers an intriguing parallel to this broader tradition of combining personal objects with protective imagery.

The object's elegant proportions, carefully articulated decoration and contrasting dark and golden-toned surfaces create a particularly compelling example of historical ornamental craftsmanship.

An unusual collectible bringing together the technological traditions of Byzantine personal-care instruments and the visual language of protective jewellery.

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.