Catalogue of Byzantine Seals; Vol. 7

Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Volume 7

Anonymous, with Bilateral Religious Imagery

John A. Cotsonis

Dumbarton Oaks houses the largest collection of Byzantine lead seals in the world, with approximately 17,000 specimens. Volume 7 of the ongoing series of Dumbarton Oaks catalogues presents a distinct part of the collection: 572 anonymous seals bearing sacred images on both sides. The seals, almost all previously unpublished, are fully illustrated and accompanied by a detailed commentary that provides transcriptions of the identifying sigla. This volume represents the first attempt to analyze this group of seals chronologically and typologically.

The depictions of Christ, the Virgin, and a remarkably wide array of saints and narrative scenes offer rich and untapped material for scholars interested in Byzantine piety and culture. Discernible trends within this body of seals help to track the popularity of various saints and the changes in devotional images over time. The variety of these images, enhanced by reference to examples in other collections, will also enable scholars to compare the renderings of holy figures on lead seals to those appearing in other Byzantine religious images. 

View the Online Exhibition at Dumbarton Oaks from November 2021- December 2022

About the Author:  John A. Cotsonis is Bishop of Amissos and Director of the Archbishop Iakovos Library and Learning Resource Center at Hellenic College, Hoy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. 

HARDCOVER

ISBN 9780884024729

Publication Date: 12/14/2020 

288 pages

8-1/2 x 11 inches

1144 color photos, 4 illus., 6 tables