Lamentation over the Dead Christ thumbnail 1

Lamentation over the Dead Christ

Pax
1550-1600 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

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.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleLamentation over the Dead Christ (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Carved jet
Brief description
Carved jet pax depicting the Lamentation over the Dead Christ, Spain, 1550-1600
Physical description
Carved jet pax depicting the Lamentation over the Dead Christ. The Virgin is shown with the dead Christ on her knees, seated between Mary Magdalene, who holds a pot of ointment on the right, and another Mary, who supports Christ's head, on the left. Christ is smaller proprtionally than the other figures. The whole is framed by columns surmounted by finials.
Dimensions
  • Height: 10.2cm
  • Width: 7.3cm
Credit line
Bequeathed by Lt. Col. G. B. Croft-Lyons FSA
Subjects depicted
Summary
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.
Bibliographic references
  • Trusted, Marjorie. Spanish Sculpture : Catalogue of the Post-Medieval Spanish Sculpture in Wood, Terracotta, Alabaster, Marble, Stone, Lead and Jet in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1996. p. 150. cat. no. 79.
  • Cf. Castro, José Villaamil y. In: Boletín de la Sociedad Española de Excursiones. February 1899. p. 189.
Collection
Accession number
A.65-1926

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Record createdNovember 23, 2004
Record URL
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