Armenian Silver Incense Box with Agnus Dei

An octagonal parcel silver gilt box decorated with green and blue cloisonné enamel. The lid is of silver gilt, decorated with a repoussé agnus dei or lamb of God. This would have been used at the altar, possibly to hold incense or the Holy Communion. A series of related altar containers, all dated to the 18th or 19th century, are illustrated in Aspects of Armenian Art.1

[1] Chondrogiannis, Stamatios (ed.). Aspects of Armenian Art: The Kalfayan Collection. Thessaloniki: Museum of Byzantine Culture, 2010, pp. 126–129, cats 73–76.