Medieval Bronze Encolpion Cross - 'Salvation' (11th–15th c. CE)
Visible traces of centuries of human history. Authenticity guaranteed for life.
Make an offer
Hey, offer received. You will get a response within the next 24 hours.
- One-of-one. No restock, no replica.
- Authenticated against published typologies.
- Lifetime authenticity guarantee in writing.
- Free insured shipping within the EU. Dispatched in 1 to 3 business days, DHL Express delivery in 2 to 4 business days. 30-day returns.
Shipping, export & payment
Piece details
- Type
- Pendant
- Era
- Medieval
- Date
- 11th–15th c. CE
- Material
- Bronze
- Rarity
- Rare
- Provenance
- Documented collection
- Authenticity
- Lifetime guarantee
Questions about this piece? info@auroraantiqua.com
Yes, you can wear it.
Wear it or display it.
Avoid prolonged water exposure. A detailed care guide ships with every order.
- SSL encryption + PCI compliance
- Card data never stored on our servers
- Apple Pay, Google Pay, Shop Pay supported
- Free insured shipping within the EU
- EU 2–4 days · outside the EU a flat €95 incl. export licence, about 3 weeks before dispatch
- Ships in a linen-wrapped wooden box
- 30 days from delivery
- Return at your own shipping
- Refund once the item arrives back with us
- Written lifetime guarantee with every piece
- Full refund if ever shown to be inauthentic
- No expiry · for the original buyer and any inheritor
A Medieval bronze encolpion cross named 'Salvation', with lobed ends and opposing figural decoration that follows the arms of its narrow cross-shaped body.
The Motif:
Rounded lobes and paired projections give the cross its distinctive outline. Worn figures occupy both faces, with their forms extending along the length and width of the arms. A standing, long-robed figure gives one side a vertical emphasis, while the opposing decoration creates a separate devotional face. The arrangement brings sacred imagery into the cross itself rather than enclosing it within a separate icon panel. In Christian devotion, the cross expresses salvation, while figural decoration gives the emblem a more personal focus for prayer, intercession and spiritual protection.
Details:
Material: Bronze
Dimensions: Overall height: 65 mm; Width: 24 mm; Thickness: 5 mm
Weight: 12.9 g
Condition: Closed body; softened figural decoration; articulated suspension and terminal fittings present; dark surface with local green deposits.
Provenance: Private collection, the Netherlands; acquired by Aurora Antiqua in September 2026.
Unique Identifier: P-36-B
Authenticity: Comes with certificate of authenticity
Condition and Authenticity:
Offered in its present condition. A Certificate of Authenticity is included.
Historical Context:
The attribution follows comparison with published examples. Encolpia are cross-shaped reliquary cases, a form that combines a devotional depiction with a container design. The external joints and paired structure place this piece within that family. Kokorina (2013), Pectoral Crosses, p. 27, catalogue 14, offers an outline comparison with rounded lobes and paired projections. That published specimen lacks its suspension head and has a more clearly described figural programme. In the broader tradition, paired sacred depictions made the cross a focus for prayer, while the case form gave sacred material a place close to the body.
Its opposing figures give the cross a double devotional focus, bringing sacred imagery into the familiar Christian emblem.
Explore more crosses and encolpia from our collection.
More live pieces.
How do I know it's real?
Every Aurora piece passes a four-stage assessment before it reaches the website. The work is done by qualified specialists in numismatics, ancient metallurgy, and medieval antiquities.
Visual wear and patina
Authentic ancient patina shows three-dimensional layering that follows the relief of the piece. We examine every piece under 10× to 30× magnification before listing.
Construction methods
Hammered sheet, lost-wax casting and rolled-and-soldered construction each leave identifiable evidence on the metal. We document construction method in every listing where relevant.
Historical consistency
The iconography must match documented period conventions, the form must match published typologies (Henig, Marshall, Dalton, Pollio), and the weight must fall within established ranges for the period.
Comparative examples
Every Aurora listing references comparable surviving examples where they exist, by catalogue number (for example Henig Type V, Marshall 412, Dalton 1058), tying the piece to documented parallels in museum collections.
Every piece ships with its certificate of authenticity in the box and a written lifetime authenticity guarantee.
How Aurora compares.
A side-by-side look at how an Aurora piece is sold, versus the two most common alternatives.
| Aurora | Auction houses | eBay | Other platforms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lifetime authenticity guarantee | ✓ | depends | ✗ | rarely |
| Documented provenance | ✓ | sometimes | rarely | sometimes |
| Returns | 30 days | no returns | no returns | no returns |
| Insured shipping included | ✓ | add-on | add-on | add-on |
| Linen-wrapped wooden gift box | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Written certificate, signed | ✓ | depends | ✗ | depends |
| Customer service answered personally by the owner | ✓ | days | varies | varies |
What it feels like to wear something this old.
★★★★★Jakob was incredibly professional, responsive, and patient in answering all of my questions about the piece before I purchased it. The item was shipped very quickly and arrived safely. As this item is a gift, I haven’t opened the package yet, but even from the outside I could immediately notice the attention to every detail and the high quality of the materials used. I highly recommend this shop!
Verified buyer · Etsy
★★★★★The item came just as described, the wooden box it came in was a really nice addition too! This was a gift for my Roman history obsessed husband, he loved it. Jakob was very communicative and wonderfully helpful as well!
Verified buyer · Etsy
★★★★★A very cool and unique item. Shipped quickly. Idk what else to say, I love what this guy is doing.
Verified buyer · Etsy
★★★★★Absolutely amazing, came with a certificate of authenticity and all.
Verified buyer · Etsy
★★★★★Absolutely love the natural patina on this piece. Thank you!
Verified buyer · Etsy
Questions, honestly answered.
Is this piece really ancient?
Yes. Every Aurora piece is dated by its construction method, patina and iconography, cross-referenced against published typologies and comparable surviving examples for the relevant period. The date stated on the certificate is binding: if a piece is ever shown not to be of the period stated, we refund the full purchase price. Forever, no expiry.
How is it authenticated?
Every Aurora piece passes a four-stage assessment before it reaches the website, done by qualified specialists in numismatics, ancient metallurgy, and medieval antiquities: visual wear and patina (examined under 10× to 30× magnification), construction methods, historical consistency with published typologies (Henig, Marshall, Dalton, Pollio), and comparison with surviving examples in museum collections. The certificate of authenticity ships in the box, backed by our lifetime authenticity guarantee.
Can I wear it?
Yes. Wear it or display it. Avoid prolonged water exposure (showers, sea, pools) and any harsh cleaning. The patina is part of the object's history; please don't polish it. A care guide ships with every order.
What's the return process?
30 days from delivery. Pieces restored on commission after purchase are excluded, as the restoration alters them permanently. The piece must return in the condition it arrived, in its original packaging. Return shipping is at the buyer's cost; we send a tracked, insured label and quote it first. Full refund within 3 business days of arrival back to us.
How is it shipped?
Fully insured, tracked, signature on delivery, in a linen-wrapped wooden box with the certificate and care guide. Dispatch within 1–3 business days. EU delivery: 2–4 business days after dispatch. Outside the EU, a flat €95 per order covers the official export licence, which adds about 3 weeks before dispatch; transit itself is 2–5 business days by insured express courier. We confirm your personal timeline by email within 24 hours of ordering.
Where do Aurora pieces come from?
From three documented kinds of collection: established European auction houses, long-standing dealers in the EU and UK, and old private collections formed before 1970. We do not purchase from anonymous sellers or recently surfaced material without paperwork. Where each piece came from is stated on its certificate and on the listing; where prior provenance is limited, the listing says so rather than implying more.
What does the lifetime guarantee cover?
A written promise that if the piece is ever shown to be inauthentic or not of the stated period, we refund the full purchase price. No expiry. The guarantee applies to the original buyer and any subsequent inheritor of the piece.
Stay in the loop.
First look at new pieces, before they go on the public catalogue.
Have it restored before it ships.
Hands-on restoration in our own workshop. Brings the piece back to how it would have appeared when originally worn, while preserving the character that only centuries can create.
- Surface restoration · original metal revealed where appropriate
- Structural corrections · distortions, cracks
- Timing · adds about 2 weeks to delivery
Bronze pieces: patina is reduced or removed as part of the process. Keep the patina → skip restoration.
Documented collection.
Aurora sources from three documented kinds of collection: established European auction houses, long-standing dealers in the EU and UK, and old private collections formed before 1970. Where each piece came from is stated on its certificate and on the listing; where prior provenance is limited, we say so rather than implying more.
- No anonymous sellers, no recently surfaced material without paperwork
- Provenance stated on the certificate and on the listing
- Where the exact origin cannot be established with certainty, we state that openly
Lifetime authenticity guarantee.
A written promise that if a piece is ever shown to be inauthentic or not of the period stated, we refund the full purchase price. Forever, no expiry. It applies to the original buyer and any subsequent inheritor of the piece.
- Four-stage assessment before listing (patina · construction · historical consistency · comparative examples)
- Certificate of authenticity in the box and a written lifetime guarantee
- Full refund forever if ever shown to be wrong
From the Medieval period.
5th to 15th century CE in Europe. A piece from a documented period, dated by construction method, patina and stylistic typology cross-referenced against the published catalogues for the era.
Rare.
A genuine step above standard pieces. Documented in the published catalogues and held by institutions, but private-market specimens come up less frequently. Collector-grade.
- Legendary · canonical piece, museum or headline-auction tier
- Super rare · only a handful documented across all major collections
- Very Rare · museum-tier configuration in private hands
- Rare · documented in catalogues, scarce on the market
- Uncommon · distinct examples, selective availability
- Common · characteristic, well-attested period example