Thursday, April 5, 2012

Mastery of Design: The Lamb of God Pendant, 1650-1700


Reliquary Pendant
1650-1700
The Victoria & Albert Museum




Pendants like the one we see here were usually made to be suspended from a rosary. These Seventeenth Century pendants  were typically made of horn and glass or rock crystal and served as reliquaries to contain relics of martyr saints as well as a piece of wax labelled "Agnus Dei" (meaning "Lamb of God", or Christ). These pendants were considered to have amuletic powers that could protect the wearer from harm.

This example is made from a paschal candle blessed by the Pope after the Agnus Dei prayer.
A double-sided pendant made of horn, it is set in the front behind glass with a verre eglomisé (reverse painted glass) plaque, depicting the Virgin Mary. Set into the back are small relics and pieces of paschal candle, labeled "Santa Martyr" (martyr saint) and "Agnus Dei" (lamb of God).

The piece was assembled in Salzburg, Austria with the plaque made in Italy between 1650 and 1700.


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