Pendant Cross
1800-1870 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Spain was an intensely Catholic country in the 17th century, the heartland of the Counter Reformation that set out to reinvigorate the Roman Catholic Church. Traditional jewellery often incorporated Catholic religious symbols such as the cross.
This cross-shaped pendant is typical of the jewellery worn in the Valencia region. The import of emeralds from South America from the late 16th century made green the most fashionable colour in jewellery throughout Spain. This was particularly so in Valencia in the 19th century. Today, many Valencian women still wear traditional costume and jewellery for the ‘Fallas’ celebrations each spring, although green is no longer the main colour.
The original owner would have worn this cross on a ribbon, strung through the two vertical loops on the back of the bow at the top, and tied at the back of her neck.
This cross-shaped pendant is typical of the jewellery worn in the Valencia region. The import of emeralds from South America from the late 16th century made green the most fashionable colour in jewellery throughout Spain. This was particularly so in Valencia in the 19th century. Today, many Valencian women still wear traditional costume and jewellery for the ‘Fallas’ celebrations each spring, although green is no longer the main colour.
The original owner would have worn this cross on a ribbon, strung through the two vertical loops on the back of the bow at the top, and tied at the back of her neck.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Partly-gilded silver with green pastes |
| Brief description | Silver pendant cross, partly gilded and set with green pastes, Valencia (Spain), 1800-1870. |
| Physical description | Three-part silver pendant, consisting of a stylised openwork bow at the top, with a small matching equilateral cross hanging from it, and a larger Latin cross at the bottom, with rays at the interstices, and a widened base. All the pieces are gilded on the front and set with emerald-green pastes. The bow at the top has two vertical bars on the back for suspension. |
| Dimensions |
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| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Spain was an intensely Catholic country in the 17th century, the heartland of the Counter Reformation that set out to reinvigorate the Roman Catholic Church. Traditional jewellery often incorporated Catholic religious symbols such as the cross. This cross-shaped pendant is typical of the jewellery worn in the Valencia region. The import of emeralds from South America from the late 16th century made green the most fashionable colour in jewellery throughout Spain. This was particularly so in Valencia in the 19th century. Today, many Valencian women still wear traditional costume and jewellery for the ‘Fallas’ celebrations each spring, although green is no longer the main colour. The original owner would have worn this cross on a ribbon, strung through the two vertical loops on the back of the bow at the top, and tied at the back of her neck. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 111-1870 |
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| Record created | January 18, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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