Half of a Pendant Reliquary Cross

In the pictureA bronze cross, corroded with red and blue stains, bears figures engraved in line. At the center is the Virgin with both hands raised in prayer, on each arm is a half-length saint, and at the top letters are engraved. A loop is attached at the upper end, and it is less than 10 cm high.

BackgroundCrosses like this were made of two halves hinged together to form a hollow box, in which relics such as a fragment of a saint's bones or earth from the Holy Land were placed before it was hung around the neck. They were common objects carried by pilgrims and believers in the Byzantine Empire, and only one half of this one survives. The posture of the Virgin praying with open hands is a set formula in Byzantine art.

Puzzle tipThe shape of the cross is distinct, so if you lay out the background pieces first, the inside falls into place on its own. The red and green stains on the bronze differ from piece to piece and can be checked against the preview, and the engraved lines of the figures, though thin, are good clues to position. 24 or 48 pieces is a good fit.