Pendant
1819-1838 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Normandy is best known for its elaborate crosses, but this Saint-Esprit pendant is equally typical.
It represents a dove, symbol of the Holy Spirit (or Saint-Esprit), flying down to earth with a branch in its beak. As well as the Holy Spirit, it also suggests the dove which brought an olive leaf to Noah, signifying man's reconciliation with God after the Flood.
The use of a Saint-Esprit in jewellery probably comes from the pendant of the chivalric Ordre du Saint-Esprit. It was used in traditional costume in other parts of France as well, particularly in the Auvergne, but the Normandy dove is the only one which carries a branch in its beak. Like many of the Normandy crosses, the Saint-Esprit was usually set with transparent stones, but the branch was often decorated with coloured stones, as here. It was worn on a black velvet ribbon, fastened tightly round the neck like a choker, with a slide at the front. The ribbon passes through the bale of the pendant, and is then threaded through a hole or loop at the base of the slide, and out at either side. The ribbon is tied in a bow at the back of the neck.
It represents a dove, symbol of the Holy Spirit (or Saint-Esprit), flying down to earth with a branch in its beak. As well as the Holy Spirit, it also suggests the dove which brought an olive leaf to Noah, signifying man's reconciliation with God after the Flood.
The use of a Saint-Esprit in jewellery probably comes from the pendant of the chivalric Ordre du Saint-Esprit. It was used in traditional costume in other parts of France as well, particularly in the Auvergne, but the Normandy dove is the only one which carries a branch in its beak. Like many of the Normandy crosses, the Saint-Esprit was usually set with transparent stones, but the branch was often decorated with coloured stones, as here. It was worn on a black velvet ribbon, fastened tightly round the neck like a choker, with a slide at the front. The ribbon passes through the bale of the pendant, and is then threaded through a hole or loop at the base of the slide, and out at either side. The ribbon is tied in a bow at the back of the neck.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Silver set with clear and coloured pastes |
| Brief description | Silver pendant shaped like a dove (Saint-Esprit), set with pastes, Normandy (France), 1819-1838. |
| Physical description | Two-part pendant with matching slide. The pendant is shaped like a stylised dove, pavé-set with colourless pastes, hanging upside-down from an openwork frame set with colourless pastes, with a stylised branch in its beak set with red, blue, green and colourless pastes. There is a long hook at the back of the top. The slide consists of a circular plaque of pierced tracery set with red and clear pastes, with a vertical bar fitting at the back. |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Normandy is best known for its elaborate crosses, but this Saint-Esprit pendant is equally typical. It represents a dove, symbol of the Holy Spirit (or Saint-Esprit), flying down to earth with a branch in its beak. As well as the Holy Spirit, it also suggests the dove which brought an olive leaf to Noah, signifying man's reconciliation with God after the Flood. The use of a Saint-Esprit in jewellery probably comes from the pendant of the chivalric Ordre du Saint-Esprit. It was used in traditional costume in other parts of France as well, particularly in the Auvergne, but the Normandy dove is the only one which carries a branch in its beak. Like many of the Normandy crosses, the Saint-Esprit was usually set with transparent stones, but the branch was often decorated with coloured stones, as here. It was worn on a black velvet ribbon, fastened tightly round the neck like a choker, with a slide at the front. The ribbon passes through the bale of the pendant, and is then threaded through a hole or loop at the base of the slide, and out at either side. The ribbon is tied in a bow at the back of the neck. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 265&A-1869 |
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| Record created | November 1, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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