ITEM: Stamp seal with dove MATERIAL: Bronze CULTURE: Byzantine PERIOD: 7th - 9th Century A.D DIMENSIONS: 25 mm x 12 mm CONDITION: Good condition PROVENANCE: Ex Belgian private collection, acquired before 1990s Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export license Byzantine stamps in bronze depicting a dove are intriguing artifacts that shed light on the administrative, religious, and artistic practices of the Byzantine Empire. These stamps, also known as seals or bullae, were used to authenticate documents, letters, or containers by impressing a design onto wax or clay. The image of the dove, a symbol of peace, purity, and the Holy Spirit in Christian iconography, held particular significance in Byzantine culture, reflecting the empire's deep-rooted Christian identity. The depiction of a dove on Byzantine stamps often featured the bird with outstretched wings, holding an olive branch in its beak. This imagery evoked biblical associations with the story of Noah's Ark, where a dove carrying an olive branch symbolized the end of the flood and God's covenant with humanity. In the Byzantine context, the dove motif likely served not only as a symbol of peace and divine protection but also as a visual representation of the Christian faith and the empire's spiritual authority. Byzantine stamps featuring a dove design were used by various officials, ecclesiastics, and individuals across the empire to validate documents and correspondence. The use of such stamps helped ensure the authenticity and authority of official communications, legal decrees, and religious correspondence within the Byzantine administrative and ecclesiastical systems. If you bid outside the european union and win the item, we will have to apply for an export licence for your country and shipping will take 3 to 5 weeks.