Malmesbury ciborium
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England, ca. 1160-1170.
Copper gilt and green, white, blue and ochre champleve enamel.
AZ047
Inscription:
Inscriptions/Markings On Cover: The Nativity. VIRGO MARIA FVIT QVE DOMINVM GENVIT. The Circumcision. OFFERTVR MAGNVS NVNC A POPVLIS DEVS AGNVS SIMEON I.T. The Baptism. BAPTIZAT MILES REGEM, NOVA GRATIA LEGEM. Carrying the Cross. SIC A LAPIS CESVS PIA DVCITVR HOSTIA IHESVS. The Crucifixion. VT VIVAS MECVM FELIX HOMO DORMIO TECVM. The Resurrection. SVRGIT DE TVMVLO PETRA XPC QVEM PETRA TEXIT. Aaron with the ark, and the rod that budded. Above: VIRGO DVCEM FERT VIRGA NVCEM NATVRA STVPESCIT; in medalion VIRGA. The Sacrifice of Abel. CAIN. ABEL. Below: AGNVS ABEL MVNVS AGNVM PRIV(S) OBTVLIT VNVS. The rite of Circumcision. PRECESSIT LAVACRVM. SACRA. Below: CIRCVMCISIO SACRVM. Sacrifice of Isaac. YSAAC. ABRAAM. Below: LIGNA PVER GESTAT CRVCIS VNDE TIPV MANIFESTAT. The Brazen Serpent. SERPENS SERPENTES XPC NECAT IGNIPOTENTES. Samson fighting the Philistines. PHILISTIM INIMICI SAMSONIS. In Medalion: GAZA CIVITAS. Below: SAMSON DE GAZA CONCLVSVS AB HOSTIBUS EXIT.
Provenance:
Malmesbury abbey (?); Braikenridge family; G. Hoentschel (1908-1911); purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan, 1911.
Summary:
The ciborium is decorated with six scenes from the Old Testament paired with six scenes from the New Testament, enclosed within foliated scrolls. The scrolls bear inscriptions, some in verse, referring to the subject depicted.
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