LOT 0371

Enamelled Gold Cross Pendant with Instruments of Passion

GERMANY, 17TH CENTURY A.D.

1 5/8 in. (4.06 grams, 43 mm).

A finely executed devotional pendant in the form of a Latin cross, worked in high-carat gold and elaborately decorated on both sides; the obverse set with twelve table-cut almandine garnets, each enclosed within raised rub-over collets and inset with finely painted polychrome enamel scene depicting symbols of the Arma Christi—the Instruments of the Passion— including the scourge, hammer and pincers, the column of flagellation, rooster, dice, crown of thorns, and other emblematic motifs associated with the Crucifixion narrative; the upper terminal enamelled in black and bearing a gilt inscription 'INRI', an abbreviation of Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum, 'Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews', traditionally placed above Christ on the Cross; the reverse ornamented with guilloché enamel in translucent green and opaque white, forming a cross with stylised foliate terminals; the pendant retaining its original integral suspension loop; some restoration on the enamel.

Acquired on the European art market.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13403-257997.

Cf. a closely related pendant cross in the British Museum, London, museum no. 1872,0604.897, featuring similarly set garnets and enamelled Instruments of the Passion, along with ornamental terminals mounted with pearls; another comparable example, likewise German and dating to the early 17th century, was sold at Sotheby’s, Old Master Sculpture & Early Jewels, London, 1–7 December 2021, lot 43, also featuing table-cut garnets with enamelled Passion symbols and a reverse decorated in foliate enamels.

This pendant typifies early 17th-century German devotional jewellery, in which vivid enamelwork and miniature Passion iconography converge in portable, contemplative forms of piety.