Description:

Byzantine Empire, ca. 600 to 900 CE. This is a creamy marble bread stamp from the Byzantine Empire. Bread stamps have been used throughout the Old World, particularly the Mediterranean and Near East, since the emergence of the Graeco-Roman culture; they were used for religious, magical, economic, and identification purposes. For example, in classical Greece, bread would be stamped when it was used in a ritual performance or as offerings (Herodotus describes this). Several stamped, carbonized loaves of bread have been documented from Pompeii; they were stamped with the name of the baker in order to establish ownership and prevent forgeries. Later, Eucharistic bread was stamped with a variety of religious symbols.What makes this particular stamp unique is its material; there are almost no documented marble bread stamps. This one is in excellent condition, with a decorated handle in the shape of an hourglass on the obverse side. Size: 3-1/2" L x 2" W x 1-1/4" H (8.9 cm x 5 cm x 3.2 cm).

Provenance: Ex- Private New Jersey collection acquired 1970's

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#111054

  • Condition: Minor chipping to one side but inscription is clear as is decoration on the handle. Minor dirt staining.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

December 7, 2015 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 22% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000