State Hermitage Museum :: Byzantium

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Objects of Byzantine Art in the Hermitage Collections have come in part from the archaeological work which simultaneously unearthed metalwork from the Middle East and Central Asia. The museum's collections of "Early Russian" material include, of course, objects which belong as well to the Byzantine artistic sphere. References:

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Diptych with circus scenes.
Byzantium, 2nd half of 5th c. Elephant ivory. Each panel: H. 33 cm., W. 10.5 cm. Lost left edge of left panel, "restored" in 1869. Acquired in 1885 from collection of A. P. Bazilevskii in Paris.
Inv. No. [omega] 10.
Pub.: Isk. Viz. I, no. 179, pp. 123-124; Kitzinger, p. 38, fig. 71; Hermitage website.
Ladle with depiction of the Nilomer in bowl and Neptune on handle.
Constantinople, 491-518 (reverse has seals of reign of Emperor Anastasios). Silver. L. 24.2 cm.; diameter of bottom 11.2.cm. Found 18 km. from Cherdyn in Perm guberniia; acquired in 1859.
Inv. no. [omega] 2.
Pub.: Isk. Viz. I, no. 131, pp. 96-97.
Relief with circus scenes.
Byzantium, ca. 500 CE. Marble. 65 x 157 x 15 cm. Acquired in 1919 from collection of Museum of the Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg, where it had been since its acquisition in 1774 by Admiral G. A. Spirdonov in the Greek islands.
Inv. no. [omega] 224.
Pub.: Isk. Viz. I, no. 114, p. 88.
One leaf of diptych of Consul Areobindus.
Constantinople, 506 CE. Elephant ivory, 37.6 x 14 cm. Portions of left edge , part of figure of emperor and heads of several of onlookers lost and restored. Acquired in 1885 from collection of A. P. Bazilevskii in Paris.
Inv. no. [omega] 12.
Pub.: Isk. Viz. I, cat. no. 180, pp. 124-125.
Plate with shepherd.
Constantinople, ca. 530 (bottom has seals from reign of Justinian I, 527-565 CE), silver, diameter: 23.8 cm. Found 1907 vill. of Klimovo near Solikamsk, Perm prov., along with other Byzantine and Sasanian objects; acquired in 1908.
Inv. no. [omega] 277.
Pub.: Isk. Viz. I, no. 129, p. 94; Kitzinger, p. 109, fig. 193.
Mosiac of angel.
Ravenna, 545 CE (presumed copy). 103.9 x 67 cm. Acquired in 1885 from collection of A. P. Bazilevskii in Paris.
Inv. no. [omega] 32.
Isk. Viz. I, cat. no. 106, p. 83.
Dish with 2 angels.
Syria, 6th c. CE. Silver with gilding. Dia. 18.6 cm. Found at Berezovo (Western Siberia) in 1860s; bought by S. G. Stroganov in Rome.
Inv. no. [omega] 209.
Pub.: Isk. Viz. I, no. 154, p. 113; Smirnov, Vostochnoe serebro, no. 37.
Part of diptych depicting Annunciation to St. Anna and Mary meeting Elizabeth.
Syrian, 6th c. CE. Elephant ivory.
Each 10.3 x 6.9 cm.
Ex-M.P. Botkin Collection (St. Petersburg); acquired 1921.
Inv. no. GE [Omega] 300-301.
Pub.: Isk.Viz., I, no. 191, pp. 129, 131.
Dish depicting Dionisiac scene of Maenad feeding a snake.
6th c. Silver, gilding.
Dia. 26 cm.
Ex-S. G. Stroganov Coll. (St. Petersburg); acq. in 1911 from M. G. Shcherbatova.
Inv. no. GE [Omega] 285.
Pub.: Isk. Viz., I, no. 133, p. 98.
Dish with Silenius and a Maenad.
Constantinople, 613-629/30 (on reverses, seals from reign of Emperor Heraclius). Silver with gilding. Dia. 25.7 cm. Found 1878 vill. of Kalgunovka near Solikamsk, Perm prov.; ex- S. G. Stroganov coll.; acq. 1925.
Inv. no. [omega] 282.
Pub.: Isk. Viz. I, no. 135, p. 100; Kitzinger, pp. 107-108, fig. 192.
Medallion with "hunting Amazons."
7th-8th c. CE, Syria or Egypt.
Silk. 19.5 x 22 cm. Cut from a large cloth where design would have been repeated.
Acquired for Museum in 1889 by V. G. Bok in Egypt.
Inv. No. 9472.
Pub.: Isk.Viz., 2, no. 432, pp. 10-11.
Cup.
Byzantine (Constantinople?), ca. 1000. Silver. Found 1881 at Dune on Gotland.
Pub.: Smirnov no. 295. Darkevich pl. 57/5-6, pp. 175-176.
Plate with depiction of Alexander the Great's heavenly flight.
Byzantium, end. 12th-beg. 13th c.
Part of a diptych of Consul Anastasios, depicting circus scenes and scene from a tragedy.
517 CE. Elephant ivory, 10.5 x 12.5 cm.
Once in Limoges, then coll. of Castelliani in Rome. Bought in Vienna in 1886; from 1886-1924 in Museum of the Shteiglitz Industrial Arts School in Petrograd. Acq. 1924.
Inv. no. GE [Omega] 263.
Pub.: Isk. Viz., I, no. 181, pp. 124-125.
Pyxis depicting story of Joseph.
6th c. Elephant ivory, H. 7.7 cm., Dia. 9.5 cm.
Ex-coll. of A. P. Vazilevskii in Paris; acquired in 1885.
Inv. no. GE [Omega] 8.
Pub.: Isk. Viz., vol. I, no. 183, p. 126.
Pyxis depicting story of Moses.
6th c. Elephant ivory, H. 8.4 cm., Dia.11.6 cm.
Ex-coll. of A. P. Bazilevskii in Paris; acquired in 1885.
Inv. no. GE [Omega] 9.
Pub.: Isk. Viz., vol. I, no. 184, p. 126.
Pyxis depicting story of three youths in the fiery furnace.
6th c. Elephant ivory, H. 9 cm. (less cover), Dia.12.2 cm.
Ex-coll. Hahn in Hannover; then coll. of A. P. Bazilevskii in Paris; acquired in 1885.
Inv. no. GE [Omega] 7.
Pub.: Isk. Viz., I, no. 186, pp. 126-127.
Pyxis depicting story of Jonah.
6th c. Elephant ivory, H.7.8 cm., Dia.11.5 cm.
Ex-Cath. of S. Ambrogio in Milan; then coll. of A. P. Bazilevskii in Paris; acquired in 1885.
Inv. no. GE [Omega] 6.
Pub.: Isk. Viz., I, no. 185, pp. 126-127.
Pyxis depicting Gospel scenes.
6th c. Elephant ivory, H.9.5 cm. (incl. cover), Dia.11.8 cm.
Ex-Hahn coll., Munich; then coll. of A. P. Bazilevskii in Paris; acquired in 1885.
Inv. no. GE [Omega] 5.
Pub.: Isk. Viz., I, no. 187, p. 128.
Dish depicting Achilles and Briscis.
Constantinople, ca. 550. Silver, repoussé.
Found vill. of Kopchiki near Kungur, Perm gub.
Dish depicting horse in center (det.).
527-565 CE. Silver, gilding. Dia. 40.5 cm.
Found 1780 (?) near Sludka, Perm gub. with other Byzantine and Sasanian objects.
Ex-S. G. Stroganov Coll. (SPb.).
Inv. No. GE [Omega] 280.
Pub.: Isk. Viz., I, no. 130, p. 95.
Censer with Christ, Mary, Angels and Apostles.
Byzantium, 613-629/30. Silver, repoussé, gilding. H. 5.7 cm.; Dia. 9.1 cm.
Ex-V. G. Bock Coll. (St. Petersburg); acq. 1889.
Inv. no. GE [Omega] 125.
Pub.: Isk. Viz., I, no. 153, p. 112.
Dish with cross in center ringed by a wreath.
Byzantium, 613-629/30 CE. Silver. Dia. 27 cm.
Found 1878 vill. Kalganovka, Perm gub.
Ex-S.G. Stroganov Coll. (St. Petersburg). Acq. 1926.
Inv. No. [Omega] 283.
Pub.: Isk. Viz., I, no. 146, p. 109.
Dish with cross in center ringed by a wreath.
Byzantium, 641-651 CE. Silver. Dia. 14.2 cm.
Found pre-1930 Biserovskaia vol., Omutinsk u., Viatka gub.;
Ex-Coll. of Urals Museum in Sverdlovsk.
Inv. No. [Omega] 390.
Pub.: Isk. Viz., I, no. 148, p. 109.
Ladle with depictions of fantastic animals, birds etc.
11th c., Silver, H. 5.2 cm. Dia. 14 cm.
Handle and base now missing. Inscr. with invocation for well-being of Theodoros Turkelos.
Found 1949 near vill. of Peniakhino, Solikamsk region, Perm obl. Acq. from Solikamsk city museum in 1950.
Inv. no. [omega] 1207.
Pub.: Isk. Viz., 2, no. 551, pp. 86, 88.
Bowl, with frieze depicting Heavenly flight of Alexander the Great, Samson, etc. 12th c.
Silver, gilding.
H. 9 cm. Dia. 13.8 cm. 1884-1885 in Coll. of A. P. Bazilevskii (Paris); acq. 1885.
Inv. no. [omega] 72.
Pub.: Isk Viz., 2, no. 553, pp. 87, 89.
Casket, depicting Hercules and lion, various warriors, etc.
Byzantium, 11th c.
Elephant ivory on wood.
11.5 x 37 x 15 cm. Ex-Castellani Coll. (Italy), A. P. Bazilevskii Coll. (Paris). Acq. 1885.
Inv. no. [omega] 21.
Pub.: Isk Viz., 2, no. 603, pp. 106, 108.
Casket, depicting gladiators and warriors.
Byzantium, 11th c.
Elephant ivory on wood.
19.5 x 32.5 x 18.6 cm. Acq. 1885 from A. P. Bazilevskii Coll. (Paris).
Inv. no. [omega] 18.
Pub.: Isk. Viz., 2, no. 606, p. 108.
Casket, depicting Hercules, centaur and musicians (details).
Byzantium, 11th c. Elephant ivory on wood.
12 x 28.5 x19.8 cm. Acq. 1885 from A. P. Bazilevskii Coll. (Paris).
Inv. no. [omega] 20.
Pub.: Isk. Viz., 2, no. 602, p. 107.
Dish depicting warrior battling fantastic beast (Digenis Akritas?).
Byzantium, 12th c. Glazed pottery.
Dia. 31.8 cm. Found in Chersones and acq. 1955.
Inv. no. X 728.
Pub.: Isk. Viz., 2, no. 662, pp. 129, 131.