The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 24, 2024

Mounted Rock Crystal

Mounted Rock Crystal

500s-600s
gold, quartz, almandine
Overall: 10.2 x 1.9 x 1.6 cm (4 x 3/4 x 5/8 in.)
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1953.640
Location: 105 Byzantine

Description

When this object was acquired, it was thought to be a container for holy oil or another sacred relic or substance. However, closer examination revealed that the rock crystal prism at the object’s core is completely solid, leaving no room in which to insert such matter. The object’s original function thus remains unclear. It may have served as an amulet, a magical object meant to protect its owner from evil and mishaps.
  • (Mrs. Paul Mallon, New York).
  • Milliken, William M. "Byzantine Goldsmith Work." The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art Vol. 44, no. 8 (October, 1954): 190-192. Mentioned: P. 190-192; Reproduced: P. 194 www.jstor.org
    Klein, Holger A. Klein, Stephen N. Fliegel, and Virginia Brilliant. Sacred Gifts and Worldly Treasures: Medieval Masterworks from the Cleveland Museum of Art. Cleveland, Ohio: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2007. Mentioned and reproduced: P. 62
  • Sacred Gifts and Worldly Treasures: Medieval Masterworks from the Cleveland Museum of Art. National Museum of Bavaria, Munich, Germany (May 10-September 16, 2007); J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, CA (October 30, 2007-January 20, 2008); Frist Art Museum, Nashville, TN (February 13-June 7, 2009).
    Bavarian Nationalmuseum, Munich (5/10/2007 - 9/16/2007), the J. Paul Getty Musuem, Los Angeles (10/30/2007 - 1/20/2008) and Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Nashville, TN (2/13/2009 - 6/7/2009): "Sacred Gifts and Worldly Treasures: Medieval Masterworks from the Cleveland Museum of Art"
  • {{cite web|title=Mounted Rock Crystal|url=false|author=|year=500s-600s|access-date=24 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1953.640