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cameo with Saint Sophia
Italo-Byzantine (Venice)
Italo-Byzantine
12th-13th century
Object Place: Europe, Venice, Italy
Medium/Technique
Glass paste
Dimensions
2.6 x 2 cm (1 x 13/16 in.)
Credit Line
Samuel Putnam Avery Fund
Accession Number40.727
CollectionsEurope
ClassificationsGlass
DescriptionCameo with glass paste with half-length frontal figure of Saint Sophia inscribed on either side H A[?IA] CO?IA. With her right hand raised in benediction, she wears a tunic and mantle and veil covering her head. Her nimbus consists of a series of dots. this was a pilgrim's token and was perhaps mounted as a pendant or ring.
Provenance1940, sold by Kirkor Minassin (dealer; b. 1874 - d. 1944), New York, to the MFA for $50. (Accession date: November 14, 1940)