Set of four pectoral crosses. Byzantine art, 6th–10th centuries.

Set of four pectoral crosses. Byzantine art, 6th–10th centuries.
Cast bronze, chiseled and incised.
Provenance: Peter Brandes Collection (Denmark).
Measurements: 8.5 x 4.5 cm; 11 x 5 cm; 8.2 x 5.5 cm; 11 x 5.5 cm.

An interesting set of four pectoral crosses associated with private devotion and the protective role these objects played in the Byzantine world from Late Antiquity through the Middle Ages. Their small size allowed them to be worn suspended from the body, making them direct evidence of everyday religiosity and the widespread use of the cross as a Christian emblem.

The pieces display different typological and ornamental styles. Two feature widened arms decorated with incised concentric circles, a geometric motif common in early medieval metalwork; another retains engraved figurative decoration, while the hinged example resembles an enkolpion or reliquary cross, designed to house small relics. The diversity of forms, suspension systems, and decorative repertoires highlights the variety achieved by this type of devotional object.

The provenance of the Peter Brandes Collection enhances the significance of this group within the field of sacred art collecting. Comparable pectoral crosses and reliquaries are part of leading collections such as those of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the British Museum in London.