Current Location: Gallery 32 (Rothschild)
Maker(s)
Maker:
Unknown
Entities
Categories
Description
Silver, parcel-gilt, niello, wood and enamel; the wood cross is attached to a silver-gilt foot from a chalice, both parts are set with nielloed silver plaques.
Silver, parcel-gilt, niello, wood and enamel. The wood cross is attached to a silver-gilt foot from a chalice, both parts are set with silver and niello plaques. The cross retains small fragments of paint, which are predominantly red. The quatrefoil plaques on the cross illustrate the early life and Passion of Christ and include, on the front, the Annunciation, the Nativity, the Adoration of the Kings, the Circumcision, and Christ among the Doctors; on the back are the Crucifixion, the Angel offering Christ a chalice in the Garden of Gethsemane, the Mockery of Christ, the Resurrection, and the Flagellation of Christ. At the intersection of the cross are two smaller circular plaques with, on the front, the head of the Virgin Mary, and on the back, the head of Christ. The three circular plaques on the foot represent the Virgin and Child, St Sebastian and an unidentified saint holding a palm (for martyrdom) and a banner. Silver-gilt cylinders cover the wood at the corners of the cross, and matching silver-gilt small floral bosses are appplied to the body of the cross. (Some of the bosses are missing and there are several larger holes suggesting further bosses or jewels were once applied to the crucifix.) The domed foot has a large knop set with six circular silver and niello plaques engraved with a four petalled flower. The shaped circular spreading base is embossed and chased with two urns and scrolling foliage on a matted ground and has a rim of twelve alternating semicircular and pointed lobes.
Legal notes
C.B. Marlay Bequest
Measurements and weight
12¼
31.2
14.9
5⅞
At the moment, this record does not display units or type of
measurements. We will rectify this as soon as possible.
Acquisition and important dates
Method of acquisition: Bequeathed
(1912-06-18)
by
Marlay, Charles Brinsley
Dating
15th Century
Circa
1400
-
1500
Note
There are no maker's or town marks
School or Style
Renaissance
People, subjects and objects depicted
Components of the work
Cross
composed of
wood
Cross Surface
composed of
paint
Base Surface
composed of
gold
Base
composed of
silver
Plaques
composed of
silver
Plaque Surface
composed of
niello
Decoration
Foot
Identification numbers
Accession number: MAR.M.65-1912
Primary reference Number: 160261
Stable URI
Audit data
Created: Saturday 6 August 2011
Updated: Monday 29 April 2024
Last processed: Thursday 14 August 2025
Associated departments & institutions
Owner or interested party:
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department:
Applied Arts
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