Bronze cross with dove and bronze cradle with Christ figure
Purchased the small Christ in cradle figure (6.5 x 3 cm) in Byblos, Lebanon and the cross with dove in Baalbeck, northern Lebanon. The cross with dove (9.5 x 6.5cm) was old church, 1st millennium according to the seller. The Christ in cradle probably later and for carrying during procession. I am interested to learn more about possible dating and origins/story and your opinion on the genuine character. I am aware that I will not be able to legally sell this item to a licensed dealer in e.g. Europe because it originates in Lebanon and has no certified provenance. Am also not planning to as it is not part of my personal and private collection. Still I would be interested to find out what the approximate value would be if provenance etc could be legally established.
Purchased from small local dealers in Lebanon (Baalbeck and Byblos)
Auction House
No
Thank you for submitting your items for appraisal. The bronze cross with the dove has more similarities to 1970s design than to antiquity. The perfectly round hole leads me to believe that this might have been an ornament on a modern coffin or similar. The christ in the cradle metal application, depicting the child jesus with arms stretched out would perfectly match the taste of the 19th century. The knob would indicate that it belonged to a lid or something. The problem with dug up items is, that the context in which it was found gets destroyed. It is like cutting the most decorative capital letters out of a book, you get the letters but you loose the meaning. I would attach a decorative value to these items, but of course for you it will represent a high sentimental value.
