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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Jewellery, Rooms 91, The William and Judith Bollinger Gallery

Pendant

ca. 1620-1630 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Spain (made)

This pendant combines very costly materials with the discreet but chilling symbols of the Spanish Inquisition. It was made in Spain around 1620 to 1630. The black and white cross is that of the Roman Catholic Dominican order. The enamelled green cross on the back symbolises the hope of repentance before punishment. It is flanked by an olive branch of reconciliation and a sword of punishment. Someone would have worn this pendant to show piety and agreement with the policies of the Inquisition in the suppression of heresy.


Object details

Categories
Jewellery
Christianity
Metalwork
SCRAN
Object type
Pendant
Materials and techniques
Emerald drop, encased in enamelled gold
Brief description
Egg-shaped pendant bearing the symbols of the Holy Inquisition, Spanish ca. 1620 - 1630.
Physical description
Egg-shaped pendant bearing the symbols of the Holy Inquisition, Spanish ca. 1620 - 1630.
Dimensions
  • Height: 4.2cm
  • Width: 2.7cm
  • Depth: 0.9cm
Subjects depicted
Faith
Olive Branch
Cross
Swords
Summary
This pendant combines very costly materials with the discreet but chilling symbols of the Spanish Inquisition. It was made in Spain around 1620 to 1630. The black and white cross is that of the Roman Catholic Dominican order. The enamelled green cross on the back symbolises the hope of repentance before punishment. It is flanked by an olive branch of reconciliation and a sword of punishment. Someone would have worn this pendant to show piety and agreement with the policies of the Inquisition in the suppression of heresy.
Bibliographic references
  • Somers-Cocks, Anna, Princely Magnificence: court jewels of the Renaissance, 1500-1630, V&A, 1980, p.84, cat. 111
  • Arbeteta Mira, Letizia. El arte de la joyería en la colección Lázaro Galdiano. Madrid: Caja Segovia, Obra Social y Cultural, 2003. ISBN 8489711992
  • Herradón Figueroa, Antonia. 'Los hábitos de la Inquisición'. In: Librosdelacorte.es (2019), ISSN 1989-6425
Collection
Metalwork Collection
Accession number
M.308-1910

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Record createdJanuary 14, 2003
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O73023/pendant-unknown/
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