Title

Reliquary Cross, 10th century, (1881). Creator: A A Bradbury.

Caption

Reliquary Cross, 10th century, (1881). Etching of an Anglo Saxon crucifix made c900-1000 AD, possibly in Winchester or Germany. The cross is of cedar wood decorated with gold filigree work and enamels. The figure of Christ, carved in walrus ivory, is held in place by golden nails through the palms. The enamels may have been made by an English goldsmith familiar with German work. A dried human finger was found in the cavity beneath the figure of Christ, indicating that the cross was designed to hold relics (physical remains or the personal effects) of saints. From "The South Kensington Museum", a book of engraved illustrations, with descriptions, of the works of art in the collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London (formerly known as the South Kensington Museum). [Sampson Low, Marston, Searle and Rivington, London, 1881]

Date

1881

Credit line

Photo12/Heritage Images/The Print Collector

Reference

HRM19F37_010

Model release

NA

Property release

NA

License type

Rights managed

Available size

64,1Mb (1,6Mb) / 13,7in x 18,2in / 4095 x 5467 (300dpi)

Keywords

Germany England wood symbolic religious German arts carving country religion metal symbol book box museum English cross medieval Christianity Christ gold devotion wooden Jesus Jesus Christ crosses carved boxes location century crucifix literature relics ivory artefact concept crucifixion artifact relic crucified saxon casket devotional filigree 19th century 10th Century tenth century enamel B W Middle Ages Victoria and Albert Museum nineteenth century reliquary The Print Collector Anglo Saxon Anglo-Saxon cedarwood Museum of Ornamental Art Ottonian South Kensington Museum walrus ivory etching engraving Victoria & Albert Museum V&A enamelled bassetaille our saviour chasse V&A Museum Sampson Low The South Kensington Museum Marston A A Bradbury Bradbury A A AA Bradbury Bradbury AA A. A. Bradbury Bradbury A. A.