Standing Pyx
ca. 1520 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
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.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silver-gilt set with cloisonné enamels |
| Brief description | Spanish.About 1490. Standing pyx, decorated with wild men and animals, silver-gilt set with cloisonné enamels, Córdoba, ca. 1520 |
| 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. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | A lion over COR; BER; COR for Cordova (On upper side of foot rim, [Rosenberg 9134].) |
| Gallery label |
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| Object history | 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 |
| Production | Maker’s mark ‘Lore’ |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | 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. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 135-1879 |
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| Record created | February 9, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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