Coptic pendant



Accession Number
AB71
Current Location
House of Life (first floor), Metalwork case
Object Type
Jewellery
Periods
Byzantine Period to Modern
Material
Metals/alloys (Copper alloy)
Provenance
Egypt, Abydos
Number of Elements
1
Measurements
Height: 28mm | Width: 26mm | Depth: 4mm

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Description

Copper alloy square pendant with blue enamel depicting three unlabelled figures. Iconographically, they likely represent one of the saints flanked by Jesus (left) and Mary (right). The saint is shown holding a copy of the Bible, which suggests he represents one of the Four Evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John). Since he is also shown quite bald, this can perhaps be narrowed down to John, the most common of the four to be depicted in this way. There is a flower pattern on the reverse. Perhaps dating to the nineteenth century? Probably from Abydos. Gift from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth.