13th-14th century AD. An onyx equal-arm cross with silver sleeve to each arm and glass bead between, marked to the obverse with Christogram and legend; articulating suspender with nimbate bust; the Greek inscription reads on the horizontal arms IC (Jesus) and ?? (Christos), and on the vertical arms ?? (possibly again the name of God) and MA??AC (for the Virgin Mary"). See Pitarakis, B., Les croix-reliquaires pectorales Byzantines en bronze, Paris, 2006. 51 grams, 68mm (2 3/4"). From the family collection of a UK gentleman, by descent in the early 1970s; previously acquired before 1960. Pectoral reliquary cross of type VII according to the classification of Pitarakis. It has a good parallel with a bronze cross with niello from Saint Catherine Monastery (Pitarakis, 2006, p.114, fig.75"). [No Reserve]