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Reliquary Cross
Asia Minor (Constantinople or Anatolia)
Byzantine
11th century
Object Place: Middle East, Palestine, Syria
Medium/Technique
Leaded latten (59.6% copper, 3.7% zinc, 27% lead, 9.7% tin)
Dimensions
9 x 5.9 cm (3 9/16 x 2 5/16 in.)
Credit Line
Bequest of Thomas Whittemore
Accession Number61.1083
CollectionsEurope
ClassificationsMetalwork
DescriptionCross with slightly flared arms terminating in tear-shaped projections and pierced with five holes; two loops at the top and bottom for the hinge and clasp. Cast and engraved. A standing figure of Saint Pantaleon is engraved in the center. He has a beard and a halo with a cross emanating from the top and wears a dramatic decorated with vertical lines interrupted by horizontal bands. His feet appear to come from the side of the tunic. Above is the inscription (in Greek) identifying the saint. An engraved line frames the scene and a series of diagonal lines marks several of the corners.
Provenance1961, bequest of Thomas B. Whittemore (b. 1871 - d.1850), Washington, D.C., to the MFA. (Accession date: October 11, 1961)