Large gilded, chased and embossed copper processional... Lot 12

Large gilded, chased and embossed copper processional cross with wooden base. Italy. Probably Abruzzo. Gothic. 13th-14th century. Each of the ends is three-lobed. On the front is a depiction of the Calvary, with the crucified Christ in the centre. On the left and right of the cross are Mary and Saint John. Above is the symbol of the lamb as Agnus Dei and Mary Magdalene is beneath. On the back, Christ in Majesty is in the centre, giving blessing from his throne, surrounded by the four symbols of the tetramorph. The interior parts of the arms of the cross are decorated with embossed copper floral and geometric motifs. In the area of Abruzzo in Italy between the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Renaissance, the crafting of precious metals flourished, especially in the prestigious workshops of Guardiagrele, l'Aquila, Sulmona and Teramo. A series of common characteristics are the figures barely in relief, models which are stylistically rather archaic, the figures appear to be endowed with a certain descriptive ingenuity, they originate from the Byzantine Roman artistic tradition. The Sacra della Marsica Art Museum in Italy has five similar processional crosses in its collection. The processional cross at the church of Santa María delle Grazie in Sante Marie (Italy) is also similar. Provenance: acquired in Sotheby´s on 22/4/1986, lot nº 9. Bibliography: E. Mattiocco, L'Oreficeria Sacra Nella Marsica, en Arte e Architettura, II, Arte, 1987; E. Mattiocco,, Gli Antichi Marchi dell'Oreficeria Abrucese, sul Mona 1997; E. Mattiocco, Orafi e Argentieri d'Abruzzo dal XIII al XVIII secolo, Lanciano 2004. 59 x 37 x 3 cm.