UNKNOWN PENDANT

Unknown artist

Description: A gold cross reliquary pendant, with surviving back-plate. The front face of the cross is engraved with a Crucifixion. Areas of deep engraving above and on either side arm would originally have held enamel. The reverse is engraved on each arm with a flower and foliage, and with a small cross in the centre. Both sides would originally have been enamelled. The ends of each arm of the cross are concave with scrolled or curled corners. A small gold wire peg survives in each angle of the cross. These would originally have held pearls or gemstones.The suspension loop is made from a rectangular strip of gold. A circular ring survives through the suspension loop.The top of the upper arm of the cross has a gold back forming a hollow cavity. The back plate is held in place by a vertical prong that slots into this cavity and is secured in position by a pin which survives. This pin is inserted through a hole which pierces each side of the lower arm of the cross, and through a small gold tube on the back of the back plate. The cross pendant was probably designed to hold a relic.The cross pendant is undiagnostic in date.Dimensions: height including suspension loop 29 mm, width 23 mm, diameter of ring 9 mm, thickness 4 mm. Weight: 11 g.Beverley NenkCurator of Medieval Collections