France second half 16th century - A large silver-mounted rock crystall altar cross

France second half 16th century

A large silver-mounted rock crystall altar cross

Carved clear quartz cross with cast, embossed, engraved, chased and gilded silver mountings. This large carved rock crystal altar cross can be regarded as a rarity not only for its artistic quality but also for its exceptional state of preservation. It is placed upon an octagonal base, with quartz side panels mounted in silver gilt and decorated with depictions of the Arma Christi in gold. The slender cross with exceptionally finely wrought silver gilt mountings that accentuate its proportions. The centre of the cross mounted with four mascarons, the terminals with gilded pommels. The silver mountings bear no marks, but the cross is considered to be a French work due to its stylistic similarity to works such as a silver mounted quartz processional cross made in Paris in 1545 which is currently housed in the church in Thonon (Haute-Savoie).
61 x 28 x 13 cm..

Literature

For the comparable processional cross in the church in Thonon (Haute-Savoie) see Michèle Bimbenet-Privat: L´orfèvrerie parisienne de la Renaissance, 1992, p. 262-263, no. 61.