A BYZANTINE BRONZE POLYCANDELON

A BYZANTINE BRONZE POLYCANDELON

CIRCA 6TH-7TH CENTURY A.D.

Composed of two openwork roundels arranged vertically, the larger hanging from the smaller via stiff hooked scrolling chains, each roundel with a labarum, the Chi-Rho at the center, the smaller with a single transept, the larger with a Chi (X) crossing the Rho (P), the transept of each with an Alpha (A) and Omega (W) descending from the underside, the roundels bordered by zigzags, the smaller roundel with several knobbed branches hinged along the edge, each with a round loop at the end to accommodate lamps, the larger roundel with fish-form lamp holders, riveted hinges at their mouths, their tails joined to loops to accommodate lamps, a suspension loop at the top and bottom of each roundel

Approximately 38 in. (96.5 cm.) long