St Anthony of Padua
Relief
ca. 1600-1720 (made)
ca. 1600-1720 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The prime function of jets seems to have been to signify that pilgrims had completed their journeys, and reached the shrine of St James (the patron Saint of Spain) at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, which pilgrims did over the course of six hundred years, from the twelfth to the eighteenth century.
In structure jet is a particularly dense type of coal, and can be carved and polished. Medicinal and indeed magical qualities were thought to be inherent in the substance from earliest times. Jet is found in different parts of Europe (as well as North America), but the two richest regions are the Asturias in northern Spain, and Whitby, Yorkshire, in North East England.
This may have served as a decorative pendant, more closely allied to jewellery than the other jets of the V&A collection.
In structure jet is a particularly dense type of coal, and can be carved and polished. Medicinal and indeed magical qualities were thought to be inherent in the substance from earliest times. Jet is found in different parts of Europe (as well as North America), but the two richest regions are the Asturias in northern Spain, and Whitby, Yorkshire, in North East England.
This may have served as a decorative pendant, more closely allied to jewellery than the other jets of the V&A collection.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | St Anthony of Padua (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Carved jet |
| Brief description | Pendant, relief, jet, St Anthony of Padua, Spanish (Santiago de Compostela), about 1600-1720 |
| Physical description | The pierced relief depicts St. Anthony kneeling, being blessed by the Christ child, who holds an orb, and sits on a table with a fringed edging, probably an altar table. Behind the Christ child are what appear to be stylised bricks or perhaps books. Both figures have crudely carved haloes. To the left is a tall vase of flowers, probably lilies. The pierced surround is carved in a flower-like form with stylised arabesques. A top pendant loop (broken) indicates that it was probably a pendant. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Credit line | Given by Dr W. L. Hildburgh FSA |
| Object history | Given by Dr. W. L. Hildburgh, F. S. A., 1953. Historical significance: Pierced work in jet was also relatively common. |
| Historical context | This may have served as a decorative pendant, more closely allied to jewellery than the other jets of the V&A collection. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | The prime function of jets seems to have been to signify that pilgrims had completed their journeys, and reached the shrine of St James (the patron Saint of Spain) at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, which pilgrims did over the course of six hundred years, from the twelfth to the eighteenth century. In structure jet is a particularly dense type of coal, and can be carved and polished. Medicinal and indeed magical qualities were thought to be inherent in the substance from earliest times. Jet is found in different parts of Europe (as well as North America), but the two richest regions are the Asturias in northern Spain, and Whitby, Yorkshire, in North East England. This may have served as a decorative pendant, more closely allied to jewellery than the other jets of the V&A collection. |
| Bibliographic reference | Trusted, Marjorie. Spanish sculpture : catalogue of the post-medieval Spanish sculpture in wood, terracotta, alabaster, marble, stone, lead and jet in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London : Victoria and Albert Museum, 1996, pp.153-154, cat. no. 84. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.18-1953 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | January 14, 2004 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
