Cross
ca. 1360 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The cross is the central emblem of Christianity and the symbol of Christ’s Crucifixion. It first appeared about 350, possibly for use in private prayer. Until about 1000 the custom was to suspend a cross above the altar, or to place it alongside, but later the cross was generally put directly on the altar. Crosses were also carried in procession before a service.
Both altar and processional crosses were generally made of precious or gilded metal, or ivory, and decorated with gems or enamel. From about 800 they bore the image of the crucified Christ and became known as crucifixes. By about 1100 the imagery of European crosses had become established. It usually included the symbols of the four Evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), often with the Virgin Mary and St John flanking the crucified Christ.
The imagery on this small cross includes the Pelican in her Piety (behind Christ’s head), a traditional symbol of Christ’s self-sacrifice. Plaques on the back represent the four Evangelists and St Peter with his keys (at the bottom).
Both altar and processional crosses were generally made of precious or gilded metal, or ivory, and decorated with gems or enamel. From about 800 they bore the image of the crucified Christ and became known as crucifixes. By about 1100 the imagery of European crosses had become established. It usually included the symbols of the four Evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), often with the Virgin Mary and St John flanking the crucified Christ.
The imagery on this small cross includes the Pelican in her Piety (behind Christ’s head), a traditional symbol of Christ’s self-sacrifice. Plaques on the back represent the four Evangelists and St Peter with his keys (at the bottom).
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silver parcel gilt and wood |
| Brief description | Silver, parcel gilt set with enamel, Italy, Sienna, ca.1360 |
| Physical description | Silver parcel gilt, enriched with translucent enamel plaques, on a wooden foundation. Arms with trefoil ends which, like the bulge half way down the stem, have copper gilt balls attached at the side. The Christ is attached to an engraved and gilt inner cross. The enamel plaques represent- Front: Almighty (top), Virgin (left), Pelican (centre), St John (right), three rosettes (under the feet of Christ), Angel with sword and orb (bottom); Back: The four Evangelists surroundung the Agnus Dei, with St Peter at the bottom. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | Altar Cross
The cross is the central emblem of Christianity and the symbol of Christ's Crucifixion. It first appeared about 350, possibly for use in private prayer. Until about 1000 the custom was to suspend a cross above the altar, or to place it alongside, but later the cross was generally put directly on the altar. Crosses were also carried in procession before a service.
Both altar and processional crosses were generally made of precious or gilded metal, or ivory, and decorated with gems or enamel. From about 800 they bore the image of the crucified Christ and became known as crucifixes. By about 1100 the imagery of European crosses had become established. It usually included the symbols of the four Evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), often with the Virgin Mary and St John flanking the crucified Christ.
The imagery on this small cross includes the Pelican in her Piety (behind Christ's head), a traditional symbol of Christ's self-sacrifice. Plaques on the back represent the four Evangelists and St Peter with his keys (at the bottom).
Siena, Italy, about 1300-30
Silver, partly gilded, on wood, set with translucent
enamel
Museum no. M.11-1951. Hildburgh Gift (4)(22/11/2005) |
| Credit line | Given by Dr W.L. Hildburgh |
| Object history | Hildburgh Gift. Acquired in Nice 1948. |
| Historical context | Altar and Processional Crosses The cross is the distinctive emblem of Christianity and the symbol of Christ's crucifixion. Models of the cross begin to appear from about 350 AD, probably for use in private prayer. Only from about 1000 was a cross regularly placed on the altar during Mass; a more ancient custom was to suspend a cross above the altar or to place one beside it. Crosses were also carried in procession before a service. In early centuries these were hand-held, later replaced by more visible crosses raised on staffs. Both altar and processional crosses were generally made of precious or gilt metal, or ivory, and decorated with gems. From about 800 they were adorned with the image of the crucified Christ and became known as crucifixes. By about 1100 the iconography of European crosses had become established, usually including the symbols of the four Evangelists, often with the Virgin Mary and St John the Evangelist flanking the figure of Christ crucified. |
| Summary | The cross is the central emblem of Christianity and the symbol of Christ’s Crucifixion. It first appeared about 350, possibly for use in private prayer. Until about 1000 the custom was to suspend a cross above the altar, or to place it alongside, but later the cross was generally put directly on the altar. Crosses were also carried in procession before a service. Both altar and processional crosses were generally made of precious or gilded metal, or ivory, and decorated with gems or enamel. From about 800 they bore the image of the crucified Christ and became known as crucifixes. By about 1100 the imagery of European crosses had become established. It usually included the symbols of the four Evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), often with the Virgin Mary and St John flanking the crucified Christ. The imagery on this small cross includes the Pelican in her Piety (behind Christ’s head), a traditional symbol of Christ’s self-sacrifice. Plaques on the back represent the four Evangelists and St Peter with his keys (at the bottom). |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.11-1951 |
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| Record created | March 18, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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