Spoon, silver, Late Byzantine, 8th century
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
8th century
Late 6th-8th century A.D. Featuring a large, shallow piriform bowl, stepped junction with a boar's head above, a hexagonal-section stem extending from behind the boar's neck bearing a Greek inscription 'TTETPOY' (of Peter); a balustered handle with a cuboid, striated finial. Cf.
Shelton, K.J., The Esquiline Treasure, London, 1981, item 27, for type; Wamser, L., Die Welt von Byzanz - Europas Östliches Erbe, München, 2004, item 909. 60.77 grams, 21.5 cm (8 1/2 in.). Acquired on the UK art market. Private collection, Surrey, UK. The inscription suggests that the spoon may have had a liturgical purpose, associated with the Holy Communion. Still today in the Orthodox Church, the Body and Blood of Christ are dispensed with similar liturgical objects. The name Peter can be associated with the church, or simply with the owner of the liturgical artefact. See our website for more information.
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
- Dimensions or weight (listing wording)
- 60.77 grams; 21.5 cm; 2 in
Identification
- Source note
- Auction-house description published on Invaluable; the text keeps only the listing's object facts (condition, price and sale wording removed). Attribution and measurements describe the photographed example; independent type authentication remains research required.
- Candidate id
- inv-205538207
- Auction house
- TimeLine Auctions
- Listing object ID
- 205538207
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type, maker and dating against a specialist reference; this entry documents one recorded example.