Crucifixion; Carrying of the Cross

Object Name

Prayer Bead

Artist/Maker

South Netherlandish

Object Type

Prayer Bead

Date

1500-1525

Medium

boxwood

Credit Line

The British Museum, London, United Kingdom

Object Number

WB.236

Location

Not currently on display

Institution/Owner

The British Museum

External Link

View this object on the source website

Polyptych - upper half closed by two doors. On the outside of the doors, the Virgin in the Temple (left), Marriage of the Virgin (right); inside the same doors, Moses and the Brazen Serpent (left) and the Deposition (right). Inside the upper half, in deep and delicate relief, the Crucifixion beneath a vaulted roof, staged on several levels.

lower half is shut with one hinged flap which telescopes open, and is carved on both sides: on the front, The Annunciation with the words spoken by the Virgin and by Gabriel within the scene as scrolls; on the other side, The Nativity, with smaller scenes of the Circumcision, Presentation in the Temple and Christ among the doctors. Inside the lower half, carved in deep relief is the Bearing of the Cross with St. Veronica.

[source: British Museum website]

Signature, Inscriptions, and Markings

Inscription

Carved Latin inscriptions:

SVSEPERVT' AVT IHESVM ET EDVXERT' ET BAIVLAS SIBI CRVCE EXIVIT [inner lower; John xix.16,17]

ECCE ANCILLA DOMINI FIAT MICHI SECVNDVM VERBVM TVAM [around outer lower door; Luke i.38 - Annunciation]

ET TV BETHLEEM TERRA IVDANE QVAQVAM MINIMES IN PRINCIBS IVD [around inner lower door; Matt.ii.6 - Nativity]

ATTENDITE ET VIDETE SI EST DOLOR SIMILIS DOLO [outer lower]

LEVEMVS CORDA NOSTR' CV MANIBS' AD DNNI' IN SELOS [outer upper - although website incorrectly says lower]

TVAM CRVCE ADORAM' DNE TV[AM] GLORIOSA' RECOI PASSIOE [inner upper]

[source: British Musuem website]

Published References

Hugh Tait, 'Catalogue of the Waddesdon Bequest in the British Museum. 1., The Jewels', British Museum, London, 1986, pp.51-56, figs.36-37; O.M. Dalton, 'The Waddesdon Bequest', 2nd edn (rev), British Museum, London, 1927, no.236; Charles Hercules Read, 'The Waddesdon Bequest: Catalogue of the Works of Art bequeathed to the British Museum by Baron Ferdinand Rothschild, M.P., 1898', London, 1902, no. 236, pl.XLVIII; Richard Marks, Two Early Sixteenth Century Boxwood Carvings Associated with the Glymes Family of Bergen op Zoom (Oud Holland, 91, 1977, 141n19);