Pendant thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Pendant

1751-1764 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Although traditional jewellery was worn throughout Sweden, and has a distinct Swedish character, there are marked differences between the different provinces. Skåne province, in the extreme south of Sweden, has the richest tradition, and more jewellery was worn there than in any other district. Almost all the Swedish traditional jewellery at the V&A comes from Skåne.

When Sweden became Protestant in 1527, Swedish women continued to wear crosses rich with symbolism and religious pendants like their medieval predecessors. These round pendants were also called 'crosses', and had a strong religious character. The Swedish word trillekors means a wheel-shaped cross. This one is stamped with the monogram IHS, the first letters of the name Jesus in Greek. The angel's head with wings attached, on the front, and the hollow ball beneath the loop, are both typical of Swedish traditional jewellery.

This pendant has the maker's mark PG. Petter Lorentzson Gadd was a silversmith working in Kristianstad in the second half of the 18th century.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Stamped sheet silver
Brief description
Silver pendant (trillekors) stamped with IHS, Skåne (Sweden), 1751-1764.
Physical description
Flat circular pendant with a stamped design of the initials 'IHS', with a winged angel's head plaque superimposed. Two (originally three) pendent discs hang from the lower edge. At the top is a hollow sphere, to which the suspension loop is attached.
Dimensions
  • Length: 11.1cm
  • Width: 7.6cm
  • Depth: 1.3cm
Marks and inscriptions
'P G' in a cursive script, without a frame. (On front, at top.)
Translation
Mark of Petter Lorentzson Gadd, of Kristianstad.
Subject depicted
Summary
Although traditional jewellery was worn throughout Sweden, and has a distinct Swedish character, there are marked differences between the different provinces. Skåne province, in the extreme south of Sweden, has the richest tradition, and more jewellery was worn there than in any other district. Almost all the Swedish traditional jewellery at the V&A comes from Skåne.

When Sweden became Protestant in 1527, Swedish women continued to wear crosses rich with symbolism and religious pendants like their medieval predecessors. These round pendants were also called 'crosses', and had a strong religious character. The Swedish word trillekors means a wheel-shaped cross. This one is stamped with the monogram IHS, the first letters of the name Jesus in Greek. The angel's head with wings attached, on the front, and the hollow ball beneath the loop, are both typical of Swedish traditional jewellery.

This pendant has the maker's mark PG. Petter Lorentzson Gadd was a silversmith working in Kristianstad in the second half of the 18th century.
Collection
Accession number
425-1886

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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