Late Antique and Early Christian gems

Reference & Research Book News, Feb, 2008

Late Antique and Early Christian gems.

Spier, Jeffrey.

Reichert Verlag

2007

376 pages

$297.00

Hardcover

Spatantike--Fruhes Christentum--Byzanz; 2nd series; v.20

NK5565

This remarkable volume catalogs, as fully as possible, over 1000 examples of carved Early Christian gems in museum and private collections worldwide. The material is grouped by type, including subject matter, related carvings, or material, including jasper and cornelian. A chapter is included on Jewish seals. The chapters contain lengthy discussion of the history of the type, with attention to style, use, and examples. The catalog entries for each example includes provenance and bibliography. Provenance and the history of the study of collecting of Early Christian gems is discussed in the introduction and throughout the chapters. The volume concludes with b&w plates of all the examples. Oversize: 9x12.5". Distributed in North America by The David Brown Book Co.

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