Object ID
2011.8.1
Object Name
Prosphora
Date Created
1899
Material
Wood
Object Entities
Greece, (created by)
Family, The (owned by)
Bovis, Tom (is related to)
Lytras, Athanasios (is related to)
Efstathiou, Efthemia (is related to)
Access Points
Object Description
A round, hand-carved, wooden bread stamp (prosphora) used to imprint holy bread before baking. The stamp is made of wood.

The main part of the stamp is circular in shape (similar to a miniature frisbee), with a flat stamp side, and a small wooden handle on the other. The flat side is ringed with a hand-carved border, and divided into 9 individually-carved sections.

The small handle has a flat surface on the top, upon which there is a hand-carved border, and four individually-carved square sections for small pieces of bread.

Around the edge of the circular stamp, on the top side, is carved the date "1899" as well as some illegible letters and numbers.
Origin
This bread stamp was hand carved in 1899, in Avoros, Fokidos, Greece, by Athanasios Lytras, godson to the donor's grandmother Efthemia Efstathiou. It was then in turn handed down to the donor's mother, Vasiliki Kostopanagiotou who brought it with her to the US in 1946. It was then in turn handed down to the donor's wife, Maria Bovis and has been used in their household until donation to the museum.

The stamp is used to mark the top of holy bread just prior to baking. Each individual square of the carved design has a religious significance. The small stamp on the reverse handle is used to make small, bite-sized pieces for use at the cemetary after a funeral service.
Rights and Reproduction
The content on this site is made available for research and education purposes only. The use of these materials may be restricted by law or the donor.

Any other use, such as exhibition, publication, or commercial use, is not allowed except by written permission in accordance with the NHM Image Rights and Reproduction Policy.

For questions on image rights and reproduction, please contact nhmcollections@hellenicmuseum.org
Citation
Prosphora, 1899, National Hellenic Museum, https://collections.nationalhellenicmuseum.org/Detail/objects/8535. Accessed 04/27/24.