Electrotype copy of a pair of bronze doors depicting the Creation of Eve from Hildesheim Cathedral, made bu Giovanni Franchi in about 1874.

Electrotype of a pair of bronze doors depicting: The Creation of Eve, Temptation of Adam and Eve, The Fall of Man, Expulsion out of Paradise, The sacrifice of Cain and Abel, Annunciation, The Nativity, Adoration of the Magi, The Presentation in the Temple, Christ before Pontias Pilate, The Crucifixion, Marys at the Sepulchre, Christ's appearance to Mary Magdalene.

Electrotype copy of the original bronze doors from Hildesheim Cathedral, about 1015. The copies were made by Giovanni Franchi & Son in about 1874, and were purchased from Giovanni Franchi in 1874 for £380.

The doors are decorated with (on the left) representations of the Creation of Eve, the Presentation of Eve to Adam, the Temptation, the Fall, the Expulsion, the Labours of Adam and Eve, the Sacrifice of Abel and Cain, the Murder of Abel, and on the right, the Annunciation, the Nativity, the Adoration of the Magi, the Presentation to Simeon, Christ before Pilate, the crucifixion, the maries a the Sepulchre, and Christ appearing to St Mary Magdalen. The doors were made at the order of St Bernward, Bishop of Hildesheim (993-1022) and set up by him in 1015 in St Michael's Church, Hildesheim. His successor, St Godehard, removed them to the Cathedral.

These electrotype copies record a technical marvel of the Middle Ages. Each wing of the original doors was cast in bronze in one piece. The doors are among the largest to survive from this time – nearly five metres high. They are also celebrated for their relief scenes, which are the oldest known monumental image cycle in German sculpture. These electrotype copies capture the fine detail of the biblical stories portrayed
in the reliefs.

REPRO.1874-44