Lantern thumbnail 1
Lantern thumbnail 2
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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Medieval & Renaissance, Room 10

Lantern

ca. 1550 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Lanterns were used for processions during the night of Maundy Thursday. In the Easter week this was the evening when Jesus held the Last Supper and was later arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. Lanterns were also used in Passion plays to illuminate the moment of his arrest.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Iron; sheet; embossed
Brief description
Processional lantern, sheet iron with glazed openings, French, about 1550
Physical description
Processional lantern, hexagonal, sheet iron. Each side with a glazed opening, one side is hinged as a door. At each angle is a hollow rod embossed with a row of fleur-de-lis, with a pointed knob above and below. The bottom is also embossed with fleur-de-lis as well as sceptres headed with the same design and other ornamentation. The socket is decorated with a similar design of fleur-de-lis. The top of the lantern is shaped like a roof, has dormer windows and is pierced with diamond shapes, stars and holes of other shapes.

The pole upon which the lantern is mounted was acquired with the object.
Dimensions
  • Height: 202.5cm
  • Width: 28cm
  • Depth: 26cm
Measured for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries 2006
Gallery label
LANTERN Wrought iron France; 16th century Pierced sheet iron was often used for processional lanterns of this type, making them lighter to carry and allowing the light to spill out attractively. Museum No. 469-1895(07/1994)
Object history
Bought for £20 in 1956
Historical context
Sheet iron was often used for processional lanterns, making them lighter in weight.
Subjects depicted
Summary
Lanterns were used for processions during the night of Maundy Thursday. In the Easter week this was the evening when Jesus held the Last Supper and was later arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. Lanterns were also used in Passion plays to illuminate the moment of his arrest.
Collection
Accession number
469-1895

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Record createdJune 12, 2006
Record URL
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