Icons

A Byzantine ivory icon depicting Christ Pantokrator. Carved ivory. Byzanz. Late 10./early 11. century (Sale 216, Lot 650)

A Byzantine ivory icon depicting Christ Pantokrator. Carved ivory. Christ is shown as the Pantocrator ("Creator of All"), with his right hand raised in blessing. With his left he is bearing the Gospels. The background decorated with seven carved rosettes. This plaque was probably the central panel of a triptych, a deluxe portable icon for personal devotion. Later, in western Europe, the panel may have been used as a cover for a gospel book. Cracks, restored. Byzantine, probably made in Constantinople, late 10th / early 11th century. 20.7 x 14.6 cm. in späterer Zeit zu einem Buchbeschlag umfunktioniert.