Pendant Cross
1800-1867 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
After the prolonged and destructive Thirty Years War of 1618-48, Europe split into a Catholic south and a Protestant north. In the south, Christian symbols such as the cross and rosary were widely worn as jewellery. The crosses worn with traditional costume often followed out-dated aristocratic examples. Many were based on 17th and 18th century patterns, but over time local differences became fixed, and patterns became characteristic of a particular place.
This pendant comes from the Abruzzi. It is 18th century in design, but the detail is typical of 19th century traditional jewellery. Its original owner would have worn it 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.
It was bought as part of the Castellani collection of Italian Peasant Jewellery at the International Exhibition, Paris, 1867.
This pendant comes from the Abruzzi. It is 18th century in design, but the detail is typical of 19th century traditional jewellery. Its original owner would have worn it 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.
It was bought as part of the Castellani collection of Italian Peasant Jewellery at the International Exhibition, Paris, 1867.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silver set with white pastes |
| Brief description | Silver bow with pendant cross set with white pastes, Abruzzi (Italy), 1800-1867 |
| Physical description | Silver pendant consisting of a stylised bow with a hinged pendant cross hanging from it. Both parts are set with faceted white pastes (one missing). There are two bars on the back of the bow for suspension. |
| Dimensions |
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| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | After the prolonged and destructive Thirty Years War of 1618-48, Europe split into a Catholic south and a Protestant north. In the south, Christian symbols such as the cross and rosary were widely worn as jewellery. The crosses worn with traditional costume often followed out-dated aristocratic examples. Many were based on 17th and 18th century patterns, but over time local differences became fixed, and patterns became characteristic of a particular place. This pendant comes from the Abruzzi. It is 18th century in design, but the detail is typical of 19th century traditional jewellery. Its original owner would have worn it 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. It was bought as part of the Castellani collection of Italian Peasant Jewellery at the International Exhibition, Paris, 1867. |
| Bibliographic reference | 'Italian Jewellery as worn by the Peasants of Italy', Arundel Society, London, 1868, Plate 9 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 201-1868 |
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| Record created | October 24, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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