Gold & Enamel Crucifix Pendant With Baroque Pearls. Spanish, Late 16th Century.

A gold and enamel crucifix pendant set with baroque pearls.

Spanish, late 16th century.

Measures 6.9 x 3.4cm.

The limp body of Christ hangs from the crucifix, the bones of Adam at his feet. Above his head is the plaque mocking the saviour, hung by Pilate with the initials ‘INRI’, an abbreviation of the Latin ‘Iēsus Nazarēnus, Rēx Iūdaeōrum’, which translates into English as “'Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews’. The goldsmith has taken tremendous care to imitate the grain, knots and stumps of the tree used to make the cross. Baroque pearls are suspended from each of the arms and the base of the cross.

See the last image for a remarkably similar example sold by Sotheby’s, London, European Sculpture & Works of Art, 4th December 2013, Lot 58.