Byzantine Bronze Hanging Polycandelon

£ 1,250.00

A Byzantine bronze round component of a hanging polycandelon, featuring a flat section ring with nine round holes. The disc would have been held by its three bronze chains and hung from the hook at the top, which all remain intact. These chains are attached to a suspension ring, from which a shorter bronze chain also hangs. Candles would have been placed in the round circles of the disc to illuminate the environment.

Date: Circa 6th-9th Century AD
Provenance: From a Surrey, U.K., gentleman's collection, 1960s-2000s.
Condition: Very fine, complete and intact. The ring and a few chain links have slightly lost their shape over time. Green patination to the surface with minor areas of rust.

In stock

SKU: CF-41 Category: Tag:

During the Roman and Byzantine Empire, household items made of bronze, such as this beautiful hanging polycandelon, were possessed only by the higher social classes. Polycandela are lighting devices, usually made of metal, that hold multiple lamps or candles in order to light up spaces. Until the 8th century AD, polycandela were widely used in households, and indeed were even used to illuminate the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. Paul the Silentiary in 563AD described the large polycandela hanging in the Hagia Sophia as creating an effect of ‘some nocturnal sun’ that ‘filled the majestic church with light.’

Weight 1500 g
Dimensions L 36 x W 35.8 x H 68 cm
Culture

Region

Metal

Reference: For a similar item,The British Museum, item 81994,0610.5

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