Clasp

Creator

Preview

Creation Date

7th century(?)

Geography

Eastern Mediterranean

Culture

Byzantine

Medium

Bronze with gold inlay

Dimensions

Approximately 1 1/2 x 1 in.

Credit Line

Bequest of David P. Harris ('46), 2020

Accession Number

2020.120

Provenance

Purchased by David P. Harris from Chris Martin-Zakheim (Iconastas) in London on May 16, 1997.

Description

Perhaps half of a cloak clasp, the rectangular plaque is slightly concave with gently in-curving sides. It displays an incised cross within a wide frame-like border whose dot-and-wave incised design shows remnants of its original gold fill. A broken projection a one side of the piece is undoubtedly the remnant of the device to connect this plaque with another to form the clasp. There is a hole, apparently original, in the center of the opposite side. The clasp has a fine grey-green verdigris.