John J. Gredler Works of Art

Cypriot Byzantine Limestone Mortar with Craved Abstract Decoration

A very interesting Byzantine Cypriot limestone mortar with unusual hand carved decoration on all four sides. It is possibly a re-purposed capital, the top hollowed out at some point to be used as a mortar. The most intact side also has the most intricate and interesting decoration, looking like a sun dial or calendar.  Circa 700-900 AD.

 In my personal collection since the mid 1990s, purchased from the estate of Piero Tozzi.

Ex collection: Piero Tozzi , New York City Piero Vito Tozzi was an antiquarian, professor and art dealer who had galleries in New York and Florence. Tozzi specialized in Italian decorative arts, sculpture and paintings. .Tozzi sold work to individual collectors, galleries and institutions including, among others, the Schaeffer Galleries, Samuel Kress, the Art Institute of Chicago, Cincinnati Art Museum, Walters Art Museum and the Metropolitan Art Museum.

6" h  x  5.5" w  x  5.5" d