Byzantine stone animal: a cock
Byzantine stone animal: a cock
Carved from two fragments of dark green stone mottled with light patches (steatite probably), these two objects represent animals with highly stylized and abstract shapes.
10th century A.D., 13th century A.D.
H: 4.5 x 4.2 cm
In stock
Product Description
Carved from two fragments of dark green stone mottled with light patches (steatite probably), these two objects represent animals with highly stylized and abstract shapes (also see: https://www.young-collectors.com/shop/scupture/byzantine-stone-animal-double-headed/). Their outlines are well-defined and the decorative details, not related to the anatomy, are simply marked with straight or curved lines, linear incisions and concentric circles.
Ornament a): the fan-shaped tail indicates that this is a rooster. The animal has a hooked beak and a semi-circular body. A cylindrical, very long hole (a few millimeters in diameter) is pierced diagonally from the head to almost the lower body.
These ornaments are only rarely published, which makes their classification difficult: they would have been used to decorate clothing or buttons; the presence of the hole suggests that they might have been tiny vessels. It is worth noting that in Christian beliefs, the rooster symbolizes the Christ announcing the birth of the day and, therefore, the new faith.
