Pendant Diptych thumbnail 1
Not on display

Pendant Diptych

1400 - 1450 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Germany (made)

A diptych is formed of two hinged panels that open like a book. This example could be worn around the neck as a devotional pendant for use in private prayer. The outside panels show Christ and St James, while on the inside are St Catherine and St George and the dragon.

Object details

Categories
Jewellery
Metalwork
Religion
Christianity
Personal Accessories
Europeana Fashion Project
Object type
Pendant diptych
Materials and techniques
Silver, silver gilt
Silver
Gold
Engraving
Gilding
Brief description
Pendant diptych, silver and gilded silver, with applied cast figures of St George and St Catherine, and engraved images of St James the Great and Christ as Man of Sorrows. North German, about 1400-1450.
Physical description
Diptych, silver, silver gilt, integral hinges, the two wings fastened by a clasp, with suspension ring attached to each wing. On the interior of each wing is a sunken panel in bevelled frame, to which is applied a relief figures of St. George and the Dragon (left) and St. Catherine of Alexandria (right). When these are closed, the outer panels, recessed within moulded frames, depict crudely engraved scenes representing Christ in the Well of Pity (front) and St. James the Great (back), both on hatched grounds.
Dimensions
  • Height: 2.7cm
  • Open width: 4.2cm
  • Closed width: 1.9cm
  • Depth: 1.1cm
Gallery label
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
Before modern transport people largely travelled on foot or on horseback. Useful everyday items needed to be carried comfortably on the body. Some were miniature versions of larger objects, others folded ingeniously to become portable. Often they were intricate and delicate.
These eleven items were personal possessions. Many were made before pockets were commonplace. Some were used in the workplace, some at home and some on the road.
Many have cases as stylish as the objects they protect. These cases came in a range of materials, from expensive ivory and sharkskin to cheaper leather and wood. Their decoration shows the same designs that adorn silver, ceramics and textiles.
All these objects give us interesting insights into work, leisure and social etiquette

9 DIPTYCH PENDANT
Gold and silver
Germany, 1400-50
A diptych is formed of two hinged panels that open like a book. This example could be worn around the neck as a devotional pendant for use in private prayer. The outside panels show Christ and St James, while on the inside are St Catherine and St George and the dragon.
Museum no. 14-1873
Subjects depicted
St. George
St. Catherine of Alexandria
St. James the Great
Jesus Christ
Summary
A diptych is formed of two hinged panels that open like a book. This example could be worn around the neck as a devotional pendant for use in private prayer. The outside panels show Christ and St James, while on the inside are St Catherine and St George and the dragon.
Bibliographic references
  • Ronald Lightbown, Medieval European Jewellery, London, Victoria and Albert Museum, 1992, cat. 44. p. 506.
  • Williams, David. The Five Wounds of Jesus. Leominster: The Author, 2004. ISBN 085244 620 9
  • Brandt, Michael. Schatzkammer auf Zeit: Die Sammlungen des Bischofs Eduard Jakob Wedekin 1769-1870. Katalog zur Ausstellung des Diözesan-Museums Hildesheim, Hildesheim, 1991. Hildesheim: Das Museum, 1991. ISBN 3887462718
  • Bury, Shirley. Jewellery Gallery, Summary Catalogue. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1982. ISBN 090520929X
  • Nelson, P. (1940). An English medieval gold finger-ring. The Antiquaries Journal, 20(4), 509-509. doi:10.1017/S0003581500095494
  • Ik, Maria van Gelre. De hertogin en haar uitzonderlijke gebedenboek (1380-1429), ed. by Johan Oostermann. Nijmegen / Zwolle: Museum Het Valkhof / Waanders Uitgevers, 2018. ISBN 9789462622012. Catalogue of the exhibition held at Museum Het Valkhof Nijmegen, 13 October 2018 - 6 January 2019.
Collection
Metalwork Collection
Accession number
14-1873

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O16627/pendant-diptych-unknown/
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