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Statuette - Crucifix

Crucifix

  • Object:

    Statuette

  • Place of origin:

    Gdansk, Poland (probably, made)

  • Date:

    1680-1700 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Amber and ivory reliefs on a wood core, with a silver-gilt halo

  • Museum number:

    4064-1856

  • Gallery location:

    Sculpture, room 111, case 2

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Mother-of-pearl, jet coral and amber were selected by craftsmen for their beauty, durability and rarity. These materials often occurred in a particular geographical region. Coral for example was prevalent in Sicily and amber along the Baltic coast. Many of the religious items were portable, as were the small portraits. They were often made locally and then taken elsewhere. Pilgrims from all over Europe bought the jet images made in Santiago de Compostela.

Physical description

Statuette of a crucifix on socle, amber with ivory reliefs set on mica backings, on a wooden core with a silver gilt halo, with later plastic restorations. The ivory reliefs on the base show the 'Elevation of the Cross', the Last Supper, and the 'Deposition'. Like the figure of Christ, they are of meticulously finne quality.

Place of Origin

Gdansk, Poland (probably, made)

Date

1680-1700 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Amber and ivory reliefs on a wood core, with a silver-gilt halo

Dimensions

Height: 66.7 cm, Width: 30.6 cm socle, Depth: 12.4 cm socle

Descriptive line

Statuette of a crucifix on socle, amber with ivory reliefs set on mica backings, on a wooden core with a silver gilt halo, probably Danzig, late 17th century, ca. 1680-1700

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1856. In: Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, Arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol I. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868, p. 9.
Trusted, Marjorie, ed. The Making of Sculpture. The Materials and Techniques of European Sculpture. London: 2007, p. 140, pl. 257.

Materials

Ivory; Silver-gilt; Amber (fossil resin)

Techniques

Gilding; Relief

Subjects depicted

Mary (Virgin Mary); St. John the Evangelist; Luke (Saint); Matthew (Saint)

Categories

Sculpture; Christianity

Collection code

SCP

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Qr_O102803
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