{"product_id":"byzantine-bronze-cross-pendant-phanourios-9th-11th-century-ce-ancient-jewelry-flared-arms-punched-circles-suspension-loop-authentic-artifact","title":"Byzantine Bronze Cross Pendant - 'Phanourios' (9th–11th c. CE)","description":"\u003cp\u003eA cast bronze pectoral cross with flared arms and an integral suspension loop, 'Phanourios' carries a quiet, symmetrical decorative program: a large concentric circle at the crossing and a smaller circle-and-dot at each of the four terminals. The reverse is plain, the patina deep, and the form unmistakably Byzantine.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDetails:\u003cbr\u003eEra: Byzantine\u003cbr\u003eMaterial: Bronze\u003cbr\u003eWeight: 5.6 g (length not recorded)\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Untouched, with a multi-layered mineralized patina of dark green, black, and orange-brown; punched decoration softened by corrosion but fully legible\u003cbr\u003eProvenance: From a private Belgian collection, acquired between the 1960s and 1990s\u003cbr\u003eUnique Identifier: P-30-B\u003cbr\u003eAuthenticity: Comes with certificate of authenticity\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRestoration and Authenticity:\u003cbr\u003eThis piece is preserved in its untouched state, showing natural aging and patina from centuries of burial and wear. For those who prefer a refreshed look, a professional restoration service is available, reviving original detail while respecting historical integrity.\u003cbr\u003eIf you’d like to book a restoration, simply add the restoration option along with your order or book it as the additional product in my shop.\u003cbr\u003eA Certificate of Authenticity is included.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHistorical Context:\u003cbr\u003eSmall cast bronze crosses of this flared-arm type were among the most widely worn personal devotional objects of the Middle Byzantine period, produced in great quantity for laypeople and clergy alike. The five-point circle-and-dot scheme, one at the crossing and one on each arm, echoes the Quincunx pattern of Byzantine decorative art and may allude to the Five Wounds of Christ. An original Byzantine pendant of this kind was worn on a cord beneath the garment, close to the body, as a compact talisman of faith.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhy This Piece?\u003cbr\u003eAn authentic pendant with the honest surface of long burial and the clear geometry of Byzantine devotional design, it makes an unusually wearable antique for a collector drawn to early Christian material.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExplore more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/medieval-pendants\"\u003eByzantine pendants\u003c\/a\u003e from our collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aurora Antiqua","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":63426107998538,"sku":"P-30-B","price":240.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0897\/7140\/9738\/files\/byzantine-bronze-cross-pendant-phanourios-obverse-with-five-punched-circle-and-d-1.jpg?v=1788589403","url":"https:\/\/auroraantiqua.com\/products\/byzantine-bronze-cross-pendant-phanourios-9th-11th-century-ce-ancient-jewelry-flared-arms-punched-circles-suspension-loop-authentic-artifact","provider":"Aurora Antiqua","version":"1.0","type":"link"}