The Pelican in her Piety
Pendant
ca. 1550-1575 (made)
ca. 1550-1575 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
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.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The Pelican in her Piety (popular title) |
| Materials and techniques | Enamelled gold, set with a ruby simulant (triplet with a top layer of rock crystal, and with red adhesive layer, and foil), and hung with pearls |
| Brief description | Pendant, 'The Pelican in her Piety', enamelled gold set with a foiled ruby simulant and hung with pearls, the back with black-and-white moresques enamel. Spain, about 1550-75. |
| Physical description | Pendant, 'The Pelican in Its Piety', enamelled gold set with a foiled ruby simulant and hung with pearls, the back with black-and-white moresques. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Gallery label |
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| Object history | 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. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | 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. |
| Bibliographic reference | Somers-Cock, Anna, Princely Magnificence: court jewels of the Renaissance, 1500-1630, V&A, 1980, p. 83, cat. 105
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 335-1870 |
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| Record created | December 15, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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