Crucifix
1600-1650
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This reliquary probably belonged to one of the many thousands of Japanese who were converted to Christianity. The front depicts The Crucifixion, while the back shows the Virgin Mary. When Christianity was banned in the early 1600s, Japanese believers were forced to renounce their faith or be executed. The few who survived and remained faithful practised in secret.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Gilded copper alloy with black lacquer detailing. |
| Brief description | Met, Japan, RITUAL OBJECTS MISC Crucifix reliquary depicting The Crucifixion at the front and Virgin Mary at the back; gilded copper alloy and black lacquer; Japan, 1600-50. |
| Physical description | Reliquary depicting The Crucifixion at the front, and Virgin Mary at the back. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Gallery label | Crucifix reliquary
1600–50
This reliquary probably belonged to one of the many thousands of Japanese who were converted to Christianity. The front depicts The Crucifixion, while the back shows the Virgin Mary. When Christianity was banned in the early 1600s, Japanese believers were forced to renounce their faith or be executed. The few who survived and remained faithful practised in secret.
Gilded copper alloy with black lacquer detailing (sawasa)
Museum no. 168A-1866(04/11/2015) |
| Object history | Purchased from M. Blumberg (Lisbon), accessioned in 1866. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project. |
| Summary | This reliquary probably belonged to one of the many thousands of Japanese who were converted to Christianity. The front depicts The Crucifixion, while the back shows the Virgin Mary. When Christianity was banned in the early 1600s, Japanese believers were forced to renounce their faith or be executed. The few who survived and remained faithful practised in secret. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 168A-1866 |
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| Record created | June 25, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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