Cleveland Museum of Art

Cross

Date

c. 1280–1300

Medium

rock crystal, painted gold mounts

Culture

Italy, Venice

Department

Medieval Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

This cross consists of rock crystal pieces drilled through their centers and fastened together with a golden rod. Where they join, the pieces of crystal are bound with decorative bands of painted gold. Venice was one of the most important centers of rock crystal cutting at the end of the 1200s. The cross was undoubtedly intended for prominent display on an altar and may have also been used in liturgical processions. The cross was at one time in the Royal Treasury of Saxony and purportedly first belonged to Rudolph I of Habsburg (reigned 1273–91).

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