Reliquary Pendant thumbnail 1
Reliquary Pendant thumbnail 2
Not on display

Reliquary Pendant

ca. 1350 - 1480 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Reliquary pendant, of circular form, silver, silver gilt, enamel. The case with a ribbed frame and a corded wire edging, to which is attached two suspension hoops above and one below. The hinged lid attached to the frame at the top.
The medallion on the obverse decorated with translucent blue and green enamel, depicting St John the Baptist, wearing a green tunic, his head, arms and legs reserved in plain silver, who points to a medallion of the Agnus Dei, all within a landscape. The lid is decorated with an embossed relief in silver gilt of St George and the Dragon, the kneeling princess at the right, the dragon below, and above the saint's head a motif of rays issuing from the sun, now interrupted by the hinge.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silver, silver gilt, enamel
Brief description
Reliquary pendant, silver, silver-gilt and enamel, depicting St John the Baptist on the obverse, the lid with St George and the Dragon. France, about 1350-1480
Physical description
Reliquary pendant, of circular form, silver, silver gilt, enamel. The case with a ribbed frame and a corded wire edging, to which is attached two suspension hoops above and one below. The hinged lid attached to the frame at the top.
The medallion on the obverse decorated with translucent blue and green enamel, depicting St John the Baptist, wearing a green tunic, his head, arms and legs reserved in plain silver, who points to a medallion of the Agnus Dei, all within a landscape. The lid is decorated with an embossed relief in silver gilt of St George and the Dragon, the kneeling princess at the right, the dragon below, and above the saint's head a motif of rays issuing from the sun, now interrupted by the hinge.
Dimensions
  • Across the enamelled plaque, including the frame (but not including suspension loop) diameter: 5.5cm
  • Front to back of pendant depth: 1.6cm
Gallery label
RELIQUARY CASE
Silver-gilt, enamelled on the front with St. John the Baptist, and decorated on the back with a figure of St. George and the Dragon in relief.
French; first half of the 14th century
Production
The medallion can be dated to ca. 1350-1360, the lid dated to ca. 1480.
Subjects depicted
Bibliographic reference
Ronald Lightbown, Medieval European Jewellery, London, Victoria and Albert Museum, 1992, cat. 40. p. 504.
Collection
Accession number
217-1874

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Record createdSeptember 16, 2004
Record URL
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