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Crucifix: M.6-2018

Object information

Current Location: In storage

Titles

Crucifix

Maker(s)

Wetton, Pilgrim (Maker)

Entities

Categories

Description

18 carat gold, cast, chased and engraved

Crucifix, cast, chased and engraved 18 carat gold. The front chased and engraved with Christ wearing a crown and long robe with circular motifs, arms outstretched. The reverse engraved witha deep cross and the donor's initials 'AFPB' and 'DEACON 1958' and 'PRIEST 1959'. commemorating the donor's ordination.

Notes

History note: The donor commissioned this crucifix in c. 1960 to mark his ordination as Deacon in 1958 and subsequently Priest in 1959. According to Father Brown, the original design by Pilgrim Wetton was made in ivory but after seeing a silver version in a Catholic bookshop, he commissioned Wetton to make a version in gold, costing 17 guineas. Father Brown has a long association with Cambridge, having studied Theology at Fitzwilliam College in 1953, when it was known as Fitzwilliam Hall and located on Trumpington Street, opposite The Fitzwilliam Museum. He later attended a Theological college near Oxford and was ordained at Guildford before working as a Senior Curate at St Nicholas, Chiswick. He subsequently worked as Chaplain at the Chelsea College of Science and Technology before moving to a parish church, St Saviours, in Sunbury Common.

Legal notes

Given by Rev. Anthony F. P. Brown

Measurements and weight

Weight: 26.8 g

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (2018-11-19) by Rev. Anthony F. P. Brown

Dating

Production date: circa AD 1960

Note

This crucifix is an excellent example of Pilgrim Wetton’s design. The original was carved from ivory, from which this gold version, a commission from the donor, was cast. Wetton finished off the fine detailing himself and personalised the reverse of the crucifix for Rev. Brown. The process is detailed in some extremely interesting letters from the designer to the donor, which accompany the crucifix. Wetton is best-known for his ecclesiastical stained glass, an example of which is the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Materials used in production

Gold

Techniques used in production

Casting (process)
Engraving
Chasing

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: AFPB / DEACON 1958 / PRIEST 1959
  • Location: Reverse
  • Method of creation: Engraved
  • Type: Inscription

Identification numbers

Accession number: M.6-2018
Primary reference Number: 238733
Entry form: 1372
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Tuesday 22 October 2019 Updated: Tuesday 2 November 2021 Last processed: Tuesday 13 June 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Crucifix" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/238733 Accessed: 2024-12-22 17:25:06

Citation for Wikipedia

To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:

{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/238733 |title=Crucifix |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-12-22 17:25:06|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

API call for this record

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https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/api/v1/objects/object-238733

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