GOLD AND PURPLE, Fig. 2 Above is a pendant brooch with a cameo of Mary and child enthroned on one side, and Christ Pantokrator on the other. This was a luxury object, important for establishing communication with Mary and therefore Christ. The owner of the object would be able to carry it around, making it very easy to maintain contact with the divine.
Both gold and purple embody radiance and change. The alternation of gold and purple brought life to icons and objects, due to their vibrant nature and variations in color. The fascination with gold came from its radiance and glitter; Byzantines loved purple for more culture specific reasons. Purple dye was very rare and expensive, and often came in a variety of hues. Because “purple” encompassed a wide range of colors, it too was associated with mutability, or change. Gold and purple were frequently paired on luxury objects, such as imperial silks and enamel icons. As lighting conditions changed for the object above, the purple cameo would change hues. The slight transparency of the stone would reflect light internally. The gems and gold would glitter with the change in light. As the purple and gold shifted in hue and glittered, the icons would appear to move, bringing them to life.
For this particular object, the purple cameo of Mary enthroned is associated with the earth while the radiant gold relief of Christ depicts him in heaven. The once human Mary, constructed from a more earthly stone, allows for a connection to the gold and heavenly Christ on the reverse. Even though the Annunciation is not present on this object, Mary’s role as the mother of God is still apparent as she holds Christ as a child. Icons of Mary were common because her human qualities made her easy to relate to, and her divinity allowed for connection through her to the heavens.