Processional cross (Asturias, Spain,c. 1150 – 75). Made of silver, carved gems, jewels, and gilt on
Processional cross (Asturias, Spain,c. 1150 – 75). Made of silver, carved gems, jewels, and gilt onpart of the wood core. It is 59.1cm tall, 48.3cm wide, and 8.7cmdeep.This cross comes from a church about80km east of Oviedo, capital of the Kingdom of Asturias. On thecross’ arms are the Virgin Mary and Saint John;there is an angel at the top, and Adam rising from his grave at thebase. Above Jesus’ head is a rock crystal containing an unidentifiedrelic. Gilded filigreebars, attached to the arms of the cross, served as settings forvarious gems, including antique intaglios. Only two of them remain –one showing an ancient figure of Victory, and the other showing anude man with a fish and spear.On the back, theLatin inscription reads, “In honour of the Holy Saviour: Sanccia[Sancha] Guidisalvi had me made.” The donor, or possibly thegoldsmith, was probably a woman, as “Sanccia” has a feminineending. -- source link
#history#art#christianity#spain