Descent into Limbo
Clock Cover
1530 (made)
1530 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
A concave gilt-brass cover for a clock watch engraved inside with the date 1530 and a representation of Christ's Descent into Limbo after the print by Albrecht Dûrer, 1512. The subject was evidently cherished by the original owner of the watch which has been separated from the cover that was originally made to protect the watch movement.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Descent into Limbo |
| Materials and techniques | Gilt brass, engraved |
| Brief description | Cover of a clock watch, dated 1530 and engraved after Durer's 1512 print 'Descent of Christ into Limbo' from the series the 'Little Passion'. |
| Physical description | A circular concave cover to a clock watch; the outer surface is engraved with radiating flutes on a matted ground. The inside is engraved with The Descent into Limbo after Durer with the addition of another head of a devil on the left of the design and the date 1530 replacing the original date 1512. The remains of the engraver's signature 'Van..' has been cut off to fit a smaller watch. |
| Dimensions |
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| Content description | Christ holding the banner of the Resurrection (a red cross on a white ground) enters through a doorway. The door broken from its hinges, has fallen to the ground, crushing Satan in the form of a dragon. Above the door, a horned head may represented Moses. Figures behind Christ include Adam, old and grey bearded with Eve. Christ reaches out to a penitent in the foreground, who may represent the thief who was crucified beside Him. |
| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Given by The Salisbury Museum |
| Object history | The clock watch cover was transferred from the Salisbury, South Wiltshire and Blackmore Museum |
| Historical context | This cover protected the mechanism of a clock watch from damage when in transit. |
| Production | The engraving is a copy of Durer's print from the Little Passion series illustrating Christ's Descent into Limbo, 1512 |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Association | |
| Literary references |
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| Summary | A concave gilt-brass cover for a clock watch engraved inside with the date 1530 and a representation of Christ's Descent into Limbo after the print by Albrecht Dûrer, 1512. The subject was evidently cherished by the original owner of the watch which has been separated from the cover that was originally made to protect the watch movement. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.21-1937 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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