Pendant
1750-1850 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Religious pendants, called Deli, were common in all the Catholic cantons of Switzerland. In central Switzerland they consisted of a double-sided pendant with pictures of saints or other Christian symbols on each side. The name Deli may derive from the Latin words Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) which was a common theme, or from the French word médaille, or medallion. They were worn by women, hung from a black velvet ribbon round the neck.
Although the vast majority have only religious images, some have more profane pictures. On one side of this pendant is the image of a woman in 16th century dress holding a shield with a white cross on a red ground, who may represent the Swiss Confederacy. On the other is an unidentified saint reading a book.
Although the vast majority have only religious images, some have more profane pictures. On one side of this pendant is the image of a woman in 16th century dress holding a shield with a white cross on a red ground, who may represent the Swiss Confederacy. On the other is an unidentified saint reading a book.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silver-gilt filigree frame containing religious pictures reverse-painted on glass |
| Brief description | Silver-gilt filigree pendant containing religious paintings reverse-painted on glass, Lucerne and Schwyz (Switzerland), 1750-1850. |
| Physical description | Two-part pendant of silver-gilt filigree set with paintings on glass. The main part of the pendant is a hollow lozenge of filigree scrolls surrounding a vertical oval case. This contains two religious pictures reverse-painted on glass. On one side is a young woman holding a red flag in one hand, and a shield painted with a white cross on a red ground in the other. On the other side is a young saint in a dark blue robe seated reading a book. This lozenge hangs from a smaller matching pendant, with a loop at its top. There is a pendent bead hanging from the base of the lozenge. |
| Dimensions |
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| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Religious pendants, called Deli, were common in all the Catholic cantons of Switzerland. In central Switzerland they consisted of a double-sided pendant with pictures of saints or other Christian symbols on each side. The name Deli may derive from the Latin words Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) which was a common theme, or from the French word médaille, or medallion. They were worn by women, hung from a black velvet ribbon round the neck. Although the vast majority have only religious images, some have more profane pictures. On one side of this pendant is the image of a woman in 16th century dress holding a shield with a white cross on a red ground, who may represent the Swiss Confederacy. On the other is an unidentified saint reading a book. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 173-1870 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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