Christ on the Cross and St James the Greater
Rosary Bead
1600-1700 (made)
1600-1700 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This oval jet bead depicts the full-length figure of St James (the patron Saint of Spain) and is made in Spain in Santiago de Compostela in ca. 1600-1700.
The prime function of jets seems to have been to signify that pilgrims had completed their journeys, and reached the shrine of St James at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, which pilgrims did over the course of six hundred years, from the twelfth to the eighteenth century. Many seem to have formed beads of rosaries, like the present bead here.
In structure jet is a particularly dense type of coal, and can be carved and polished. Medicinal and indeed magical qualities were thought to be inherent in the substance from earliest times. Jet is found in different parts of Europe (as well as North America), but the two richest regions are the Asturias in northern Spain, and Whitby, Yorkshire, in North East England.
The prime function of jets seems to have been to signify that pilgrims had completed their journeys, and reached the shrine of St James at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, which pilgrims did over the course of six hundred years, from the twelfth to the eighteenth century. Many seem to have formed beads of rosaries, like the present bead here.
In structure jet is a particularly dense type of coal, and can be carved and polished. Medicinal and indeed magical qualities were thought to be inherent in the substance from earliest times. Jet is found in different parts of Europe (as well as North America), but the two richest regions are the Asturias in northern Spain, and Whitby, Yorkshire, in North East England.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Christ on the Cross and St James the Greater (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Jet |
| Brief description | Rosary bead, jet, Crucifixion and St James the Greater, Spanish (Santiago de Compostela), about 1600-1700 |
| Physical description | Oval bead carved on both sides, with a scalloped decoration around the edge, depicts on one side the full-length figure of St James, and on the other a stylised crucifixion. St James is shown as a pilgrim, bearded, and wearing a hat and knee-length robe, He holds a book and staff. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Object history | Given by Dr. W. L. Hildburgh, F. S. A., 1953. |
| Historical context | It was probably for a rosary. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This oval jet bead depicts the full-length figure of St James (the patron Saint of Spain) and is made in Spain in Santiago de Compostela in ca. 1600-1700. The prime function of jets seems to have been to signify that pilgrims had completed their journeys, and reached the shrine of St James at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, which pilgrims did over the course of six hundred years, from the twelfth to the eighteenth century. Many seem to have formed beads of rosaries, like the present bead here. In structure jet is a particularly dense type of coal, and can be carved and polished. Medicinal and indeed magical qualities were thought to be inherent in the substance from earliest times. Jet is found in different parts of Europe (as well as North America), but the two richest regions are the Asturias in northern Spain, and Whitby, Yorkshire, in North East England. |
| Bibliographic reference | 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, 1996, p. 145, cat. no. 73 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.12-1953 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
