Late Byzantine silver spoon with St. Peter inscription
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
Late 6th-8th century A.D.
This late Byzantine silver spoon, dating to the 6th-8th century A.D., is a significant example of liturgical metalwork. The object features a large, shallow piriform bowl connected to the stem via a stepped junction, which is decorated with a modeled boar's head.
Extending from the rear of the boar's head is a stem with a hexagonal cross-section, upon which the Greek inscription 'TTETPOY' (of Peter) is engraved. The remainder of the handle is balustered and terminates in a distinct cuboid, striated finial. Weighing 60.77 grams and measuring 21.5 cm in length, the spoon's construction and inscription suggest a potential liturgical function, possibly related to the dispensing of Holy Communion.
The design reflects the high craftsmanship characteristic of Byzantine metalwork of this period, with the ornamental boar's head and balustered handle providing a decorative contrast to the simple functional bowl. This artifact represents a specific type of ecclesiastical utensil, with its physical attributes consistent with known liturgical finds from the Byzantine era.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Length
- 21.5 cm (8 1/2 in.)
- Weight
- 60.77 grams
- Material
- silver
Technical characteristics
- Inscription
- Greek, 'TTETPOY'
Design
- Bowl
- large, shallow piriform
- Stem
- hexagonal-section
- Handle
- balustered with cuboid, striated finial
- Junction
- stepped with boar's head
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.