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Pendant - The Pelican in her Piety

The Pelican in her Piety

  • Object:

    Pendant

  • Place of origin:

    Spain (made)

  • Date:

    ca. 1550-1575 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Enamelled gold, set with a ruby simulant (rock crystal with red foil), and hung with pearls

  • Museum number:

    335-1870

  • Gallery location:

    Jewellery, room 91, case 7, shelf D, box 5

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This enamelled gold pendant represents a subject known as 'The Pelican in her Piety'. It refers to the medieval fable of the pelican drawing blood from its own breast to feed its young. This image is used to symbolise Christ sacrificing himself on the cross to redeem the world's sins. The pendant was once in the Treasury of the Cathedral of the Virgin of the Pillar in Saragossa, Spain.

Physical description

Pendant, 'The Pelican in Its Piety', enamelled gold set with a foiled red paste gem and hung with pearls, the back with black-and-white moresques.

Place of Origin

Spain

Date

ca. 1550-1575 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown

Materials and Techniques

Enamelled gold, set with a ruby simulant (rock crystal with red foil), and hung with pearls

Dimensions

Height: 8.8 cm
Height: 9.5 cm (Decant measurement)
Width: 3.8 cm
Depth: 2.5 cm

Object history note

From the Treasury of the Cathedral of the Virgin of the Pillar, Zaragoza. One of a group of jewels purchased by the Museum in 1870, when the Cathedral authorities sold off treasures presented to the shrine of the Virgin in order to complete their building programme.

Descriptive line

Pendant, 'The Pelican in her Piety', enamelled gold set with a foiled red paste gem and hung with pearls, the back with black-and-white moresques enamel. Spain, about 1550-75.

Materials

Gold; Pearls; Paste

Subjects depicted

Birds; Pelican; Moresques; Christ

Categories

Jewellery

Collection code

MET

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Qr_O72012
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