Featured crucifix infoinfo

Hi all found this today sorry for bad pictures it is a silver finish with black enamel and a wooden stand with skull and crossbones unfortunately broken. has Germany on back any ideas on age and why googled not enough info chris

 

Why the skull and crossbones?

Wikipedia says:

On some crucifixes a skull and crossbones are shown below the corpus, referring to Golgotha (Calvary), the site at which Jesus was crucified, which the Gospels say means in Hebrew "the place of the skull."

 

Your crucifix looks like 1880s to me.
I don't know when the 'Germany' mark was introduced. The 'made in Germany' mark was introduced in 1887, for the British market. Maybe this counts as 'made in Germany', but others will probably know.
The sacred heart and crown of thorn symbol stands for Jesus' suffering and sacrifice for mankind.

 

I have no info other than its a very cool piece

 

'INRI' is what I'm used to seeing, but assuming the 'IR' above the head of the 'corpus' stands for the Latin for Jesus, the King, Iesus Rex. The longer version is short for Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.

 

It does have the complete INRI, but the N is slightly obscured by the rivet.
Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum, and as you said: Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews.

 

interesting that, that rivet would be so poorly placed....

 

Until I reread the earlier messages & realized it was correct that on the back is a device composed of the crown of thorns & the sacred heart, the rivet was leading me to think it was a rose & a torch.

 

& that rivet too....messes with the heart...!

 

okok

 

someone has painted a lacquer in this which is annoying

 

Some of the others I found that were similar were inlaid with ebony. Could that be the case here? That someone 'freshened it up' with black enamel?

Also wondering if the fact it is marked 'Germany' means it was always intended for export to an English speaking country.

 

It is a trifoil Golgotha cross. Trifoil is the style of the arms of the cross and are also referred to as 'budding'. The motif on the back is indeed the Sacre Coeur (the bleeding heart of Christ) and the skull and crossbones on the base makes it a Golgotha cross. The wood insert is almost certainly ebony. The cross will be bronze as will be the Corpus Christi. The style of the sunburst behind the head of Christ is typical German. I am pretty sure it was made as an altar cross and probably sold to one of the many zillions of pilgrims who have traversed Europe over many centuries. From the style I would say that this was made early to mid 19th century perhaps even a little earlier. It is deliberate that the rivet pierces the heart as it often does. Not always though as can be seen from a Golgotha cross that I have in my collection.

 

well done Vincent !!

 

outstanding thank you Vincent very much appreciated and thanks for the lesson always amazed to find something like this on a shelf for 5 dollars given its age chris

 

That is a brilliant buy for $5. Lucky I didn't see it first