The Pelican in her Piety
Pendant
ca. 1550-1575 (made)
ca. 1550-1575 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This enamelled gold pendant represents a subject known as 'The Pelican in her Piety'. It refers to the medieval fable of the pelican drawing blood from its own breast to feed its young. This image is used to symbolise Christ sacrificing himself on the cross to redeem the world's sins. The pendant was once in the Treasury of the Cathedral of the Virgin of the Pillar in Saragossa, Spain.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Enamelled gold, set with a ruby simulant (triplet with a top layer of rock crystal, and with red adhesive layer, and foil), and hung with pearls |
| Brief description | Pendant, 'The Pelican in her Piety', enamelled gold set with a foiled ruby simulant and hung with pearls, the back with black-and-white moresques enamel. Spain, about 1550-75. |
| Physical description | Pendant, 'The Pelican in Its Piety', enamelled gold set with a foiled ruby simulant and hung with pearls, the back with black-and-white moresques. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Gallery label | Treasures of the Royal Courts: Tudors, Stuarts and the Russian Tsars label text:
The Pelican in her Piety pendant
About 1550–75
The pelican feeding her young with blood from her breast is a symbol of Christ. It was associated with Elizabeth as mother of her nation. The queen owned several pelican jewels set with rubies or garnets. One was given by Lady Sidney in 1573.
Probably Spain
Enamelled gold, set with a foiled ruby simulant
(rock crystal with a red adhesive layer) and hung with pearls
Bought at the sale of jewels from the treasury of the Cathedral of the
Virgin of the Pillar, Zaragoza, 1870
V&A 335-1870 |
| Object history | From the Treasury of the Cathedral of the Virgin of the Pillar, Zaragoza. One of a group of jewels purchased by the Museum in 1870, when the Cathedral authorities sold off treasures presented to the shrine of the Virgin in order to complete their building programme. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This enamelled gold pendant represents a subject known as 'The Pelican in her Piety'. It refers to the medieval fable of the pelican drawing blood from its own breast to feed its young. This image is used to symbolise Christ sacrificing himself on the cross to redeem the world's sins. The pendant was once in the Treasury of the Cathedral of the Virgin of the Pillar in Saragossa, Spain. |
| Bibliographic reference | Somers-Cock, Anna, Princely Magnificence: court jewels of the Renaissance, 1500-1630, V&A, 1980, p. 83, cat. 105
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 335-1870 |
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| Record created | December 15, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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