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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Medieval & Renaissance, Room 8, The William and Eileen Ruddock Gallery

Cross

1000-1200 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This was a pectoral cross, worn around the neck as an amulet to protect against illness and misfortune. The cross may have held a relic of the True Cross on which Christ was crucified, imbuing it with further spiritual power.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Gold enriched with filigree work
Brief description
Cross, Gold enriched with filigree work, Byzantine Empire, 1000-1200
Physical description
Gold enriched cross with filigree work and set with eight cabochon emeralds; the links have rounded ends and are flanked by projecting bosses; the centre is set with a medallion of cloisonné enamel, probably replacing a relic of the true cross. Suspended from a filigree ring with a rod tipped with pearls.
Dimensions
  • Height: 7.4cm
  • Width: 4.4cm
  • Depth: 0.9cm
Measured for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries 2003
Object history
Acquired in Asia minor, received from Mr L. Blumenreich
Production
Byzantine Empire. Possibly Constantinople ?
Subject depicted
Summary
This was a pectoral cross, worn around the neck as an amulet to protect against illness and misfortune. The cross may have held a relic of the True Cross on which Christ was crucified, imbuing it with further spiritual power.
Bibliographic reference
Pitarakis, B. Les Croix-Reliquaires Pectorales Byzantines En Bronze (Paris 2006)
Collection
Accession number
M.386-1911

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Record createdJanuary 30, 2007
Record URL
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