Double Cross – reliquary bronze

McKussic

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Nov 23, 2013
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Location
Bistrita Romania Transilvania
Detector(s) used
Garrett AT-Pro International
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Pictures link here:
Double Cross ? reliquary bronze | Coin Details

Today was a great day for metaldetecting. Me and other 2 friends have chosen a new location near our town .. a forest area located outside restricted areas and at a considerable distance by them. Once there I take my detector Garrett AT-Pro International from bag and start detecting. After about two hours to walk through the woods I came across a road that was circulated in the past because it was covered with stone and quite trodden. At the first signal my AT Pro detector gave a very strong signal about 20 cm , where we found a cross and was not any cross but a reliquary cross. At first I thought it was a medieval cross, then we constancy that is a 12th century reliquary cross.
I am very happy for this found becaus this crosses are very rare and I had the opportunity to find something like this.
The cross was donated to the museum across our city.

Info about the cross:
Type engolpion
Title/subtype Cross reliquary
Atelier School Kyiv
Material/Technique Bronze, casting
Dating Sec. XII XIII

Double Cross reliquary, bronze, Kyiv, It keeps both halves of the cross entirely, including hinges to catch the ears and closed at the ends of the vertical arms. In front of the first half, in the middle Christ on the cross. The horizontal arms of the cross, above and beneath the hands of Christ, worn inscriptions indecipherable. At the ends of the same arms and upper boom tip, one circular medallion bust. On the face of the second half, Mother Mary with baby Jesus in her arms, on her left hand. For a side, indecipherable letters. Medallions with busts of saints on the same ends of the cross arms, as the first half.

I can not wait to go to the next metal detecting with my At- Pro in the area, who knows what youll find it.
Until next time I wish you happy digging!
 

Upvote 2
Would love to see some pictures.:hello:
 

Nice! Congrats! When the museum puts it on display take photos of the cross and post it so we can see please.
 

Pictures are in his link!

Man, that is the most extraordinary bronze reliquary cross I've ever seen. Not that't I've made an extensive study of them or anything, but I used to come across many detected reliquary crosses on eBay while browsing ancient metal artifacts, crosses likely smuggled from Bulgaria and the Balkans. Although some nice ones went for hundreds, nothing I recall came close to this one in terms of detail, beauty, quality and condition.

It was a good gesture to donate the cross to a museum! Best wishes!
 

Nice! Congrats! When the museum puts it on display take photos of the cross and post it so we can see please.

thank you for nice post :D yes the cross is from sec 12 13 is bizantin.. im from transilvania nearest city of dracula castel, Bistrita city .. here is a lot of good stuff in the ground and is a good ground for diggin...the law for metal detecting is not so good because u need an autorization from police criminal and patrimon investigation to use your metal detector in romania :( and whatever u find older than 100 years u must to give at museum and u recive an 45% of his price or u can donate :D...i chose to donate because im not a bronz fan .. im only numismatic fan :d i will post some bronz artifacts find by me thank you have good day
 

Very nice, it still had plenty of gilt, so after some careful cleaning by the Museum, it will look even better. You have some very stiff rules, & I think you deserve the 45%, but it was very kind of you to donate.

What did the cross hold inside? Hair or bone of a Saint?
 

CONGRATS ON WONDERFUL ANCIENT CROSS!:occasion16: :wav: :occasion16:

Folks, click on his link to see pics of the exact folding cross he dug! Then click on the pics for enlargements, click again for super-enlargement that lets you see ALL the details -- IT'S AWESOME! I'm not into hiearchial religions but fascinated by the art that was produced - in this case, very sensitive depictions. HAVE FUN! Andi
 

Very nice, it still had plenty of gilt, so after some careful cleaning by the Museum, it will look even better. You have some very stiff rules, & I think you deserve the 45%, but it was very kind of you to donate.

What did the cross hold inside? Hair or bone of a Saint?

what price have one of this cross ? aprox.. :D
inside was empty like in pictures..but in the past is carry flesh or bone of saint or wood of jesus crist cross
 

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That's a great find for sure. I love those reliquary crucifixes.
 

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