Altar Cross

Notice of Upcoming Content and Access Change

The Museum is working on the future of our online collections access. A new version will be available later in 2023. During this transition period, the current version of the Collections Browser may have reduced functionality and data may be not be updated. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. For any questions or concerns, please contact us.

What is AAT?

The Art & Architecture Thesaurus (AAT) (r) is a structured vocabulary for generic concepts related to art and architecture. It was developed by The Getty Research Institute to help research institutions become consistent in the terminology they use.Learn More

Object Name: 
Altar Cross
Accession Number: 
80.3.46
Dimensions: 
Overall H: 66.4 cm, W: 30.9 cm; Base Diam: 16.5 cm
Location: 
On Display
Date: 
1600-1699
Primary Description: 
Altar Cross. Translucent blue. Blown, mold-blown; cut. Gilded metal mounts. Cross with arms and shaft of translucent blue glass rods of oval cross section, with three gilded metal terminals of trefoil form, each with cast heads of cherubs on both sides; facet cut square of same blue glass at center, held loosely in gilded metal frame. Two metal collars spaced on shaft, and strings of flat trefoils outline both shaft and arms. Shaft, mounted in gilded metal socket, is also decorated with cherub mask atop hollow [blown?] ovoid glass knop, with gilded metal collars with fleur de lis borders; rod passes through knop and attaches to mounting at base of cross; it also passes through metal capstan knop and blown, ribbed glass knop with fleur de lis collar atop mold-blown, domed glass foot with similar fleur de lis collars at top and bottom. Rod is screwed into pierced gilded metal plate and decorated with band of openwork scrolls surrounding disk at center; turned metal base with four scroll feet held onto rim with screws.
Department: 
Provenance: 
Sotheby & Co., Source
1980-09-18
Category: 
Recent Important Acquisitions, 23 (1981) illustrated, p. 93, #10; BIB# AI98083