Slab of Agate Stone from the former Binding of the Bamberg Apocalypse

The large agate stone is the only surviving part from the original binding of the Bamberg Apocalypse. Together with 46 gemstones, the precious stone adorned the upper cover made from gilt silver. An inscription named emperor Heinrich and empress Kunigunde as donors of the book which belonged to the treasury of the collegiate church of St Stephen.

In the area of present-day Iran, the unusually large stone was decorated with incised ornaments. On an unknown route, it came to Europe. With its beauty and symbolic power, the stone conveyed the significance of the richly illuminated Apocalypse to anybody who saw the book.

When the collegiate church of St Stephen was dissolved in 1803, the Apocalypse manuscript was separated from its covers. The agate stone was transferred to the Residenz in Munich, while the leaves of the manuscript stayed in Bamberg.