Byzantine lead seal of Samuel patrikios w/Annunciation of Mother of God (6th c)

Description

Byzantine lead seal
of
Samuel patrikios
with
Annunciation of Mother of God
(
6th cent
.).
Unique, splendid!
Obv.:
The Annunciation: on the right, the Mother of God seated left, holding distaff in right hand; on the left, the archangel Gabriel raising his right hand in a gesture of speech; star above
.
Rev.:
Complex block monogram
, reading most probably as,
CAMOVHΛ ΠATPIKIOV
(of Samouel patrikios).
18mm, 6.93 gr
.
Near mint condition and of the best pre-Iconoclastic style.
Apparently unpublished. Cf. for other pre-Iconoclastic seals depicting the Annunciation: Laurent, Vatican 218; Laurent, Corpus V.2 1083 bis; Zacos/Veglery 2951 and Cotsonis, J., “Narrative Scenes on Byzantine Lead Seals (Sixth-Twelfth Centuries): Frequency, Iconography, and Clientele” in Gesta Vol. 48, No. 1 (2009) p. 55-86 (with additional references)
.
In his study of narrative scenes on Byzantine seals, John Cotsonis records 54 seals with imagery of the Annunciation. Of these, only 9 can be dated to pre-Iconoclastic times. The figures on these early Annunciation seals are shown standing, with the angel on the observer’s right. This seal presents a rare iconographic variant of a seated Mary on the observer’s right. Some researchers have suggested that the position on the right reflects a position of higher importance and prestige, and therefore that the reversal of the positions of Mary and Gabriel in early Christian art reflect her growing prestige within Christian orthodoxy. Indeed, in post-Iconoclastic times, the position of Mary on the observer’s right becomes the norm. Another prominent feature in early Annunciation scenes is the narrative element that Mary was spinning at the time of her encounter with Gabriel (which is not in the Canonical gospels but in the
P
rotoevangelion of James
). Most early depictions of the Annunciation prominently feature the distaff, thread and a basket of purple yarn. This seal does not show the basket, but Mary does seem to be holding a distaff.
A nice piece, with historical importance, acquired in a European auction.
Please check well photos for condition!
No reserve, no returns!
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