7th century AD. A gilt pendant representing nimbate Virgin Mary in praying gesture, with her nimbate divine son enclosed inside her womb, flat reverse engraved with a Greek cross. See for style of decoration and manufacture, the plaques of Velestino Hoard, see Curta, F., Szmoniewski, B.S., The Velestino Hoard, casting light on the Byzantine Dark Ages, Palgrave, 2019, pp.39ff. 7.64 grams, 38mm (1 1/2"). Property of a gentleman from Vienna; from his private collection formed since 1970. The Blachernitissa (or Blacherniotissa, called Platytera, or Mother of God of the sign) is one of the most replicated iconographic themes of Eastern Roman art. It represents Mary in an attitude of praying (virgo orans) and with the image of the infant Jesus enclosed in a clypeus placed at the height of her belly; it takes its name from the basilica of the Blacherne in Constantinople and is inspired by the image of the mosaic that decorated its apse. [No Reserve] For this specific lot, 5% import VAT is applicable on the hammer price