Nomos 20

BYZANTINE. Circa 10th-11th century. Bread Stamp (Bronze, 72 x 63 x 8 (base) 36 (including handle) mm, 404.00 g). ✝Κ¯Ε ΒΟΗ / ΘΗ ΤW C / W Δ’ ΘΕW / ΔΟΡΟ ✝ (incuse = Lord help your servant Theodore) Large, heavy, rectangular stamp with a high handle on one side and, on the other, a four line, deeply engraved incuse inscription, giving the owner's name; all within an incuse dotted frame. For Byzantine bread stamps in general, see G. Galavaris, Bread and the Liturgy. The Symbolism of Early Christian and Byzantine Bread Stamps, Madison, 1970, passim and p. 39, fig 20. For a piece very similar to this one, but dated to the 6th century, and in the names of Eustratios and Theophanes: http://www.artoftheancientworld.com/store/index.cfm/FuseAction/ItemDetails/UserID/0/CFID/49974510/CFTOKEN/7ea18376adbe2a00-FB09F80E-3048-33BC-FC4067876A834BE5/jsessionid/843010d54e50136c09371f73125b7a263a60/CategoryID/65/SubCategoryID/955/ItemID/19871.htm. Beautifully engraved and finely patinated. Virtually as made.

For a discussion on the use of rectangular stamps like this one, see, above, the note to lot 396.