Standing pyx
- Place of origin:
- Date:
- Artist/Maker:
- Materials and Techniques:
Silver-gilt set with cloisonné enamels
- Museum number:
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The original owner of this pyx, a member of the Bermudez family, was a Knight of the Order of Alcantara. This Order was founded to defend Spain against the 'uncivilised' Moors, here symbolised by two wild men. The wild men are overcoming a dragon, a symbol of the devil. Other Christian symbols on the pyx are the phoenix, symbolising Christ's Resurrection, and the dog, a sign of fidelity. The garden on the lid with sprawling Gothic foliage may allude to Christ's capture in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Physical description
A vessel on a knopped stem. The foot consists of two trefoils, the centre part of each is ogee-shaped. The vessel is decorated with embossed wild men and animals. On the base are two coats of arms.
Place of Origin
Cordoba, Spain (made)
Date
ca. 1520 (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Silver-gilt set with cloisonné enamels
Marks and inscriptions
A lion over COR; BER; COR for Cordova
Dimensions
Diameter: 23.60 cm foot, Height: 38.70 cm
Object history note
A Pyx, or ciborium, was a container for storing communion bread. It was usually locked in the tabernacle for safe keeping but was taken to the alter during mass for the distrubution of the eucharist. This Pyx is embossed with scenes of wild men fighting dragons on the foliate ground. The enamled plaques are similar to this pano-morosque objects found in British museum and Metropolitan museum of New York.
Purchase - JC Robinson
Descriptive line
Spanish.About 1490. Standing pyx, decorated with wild men and animals, silver-gilt set with cloisonné enamels, Córdoba, ca. 1520
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Oman, Charles, The Golden Age of Hispanic Silver 1400-1665, HMSO, 1968
50 Masterpieces of Metalwork, Victoria and Albert Museum, HMSO, 1951
Labels and date
Silver Gallery:
The original owner, a member of the Bermudez family, was a Knight of the Order of Alcantara, founded to defend Spain against the 'uncivilized' Moors, here symbolised by two wild men. The wild men are overcoming a dragon, a symbol of the devil. Other Christian symbols on the pyx are the phoenix, symbolising Christ's Resurrection and the dog, a sign of fidelity. The garden on the lid with sprawling Gothic foliage may allude to Christ's capture in the Garden of Gethsemane. [26/11/2002]
STANDING PYX
Silver gilt with cloisonné enamels
Spanish (Cordoba); about 1520
Bought from John Charles Robinson
This pyx was designed to hold the consecrated host during Mass. Despite its religious function, it is decorated with wild men and monsters. The cloisonné enamel plaques are similar to those on a number of Hispano-Moresque objects, including swords.
Production Note
Maker’s mark ‘Lore’
Materials
Silver; Enamel
Techniques
Gilded; Enamelled
Subjects depicted
Men; Coats of arms; Animals
Categories
Metalwork
Collection code
MET
