Engraved gilt metal portable pyx. French, early 17th century

An engraved gilt metal portable pyx. 

French, early 17th century.

The exterior is engraved to one side with penitent figures kneeling beneath the symbol ‘IHS’ within a sunburst. The border is engraved with the latin text ’In nomine Jesu omne genu flectatur coelestium, terrestrium et infernorum’ translating as ‘That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth’.

To the other side is a crucifixion with the Madonna and Saint John the Evangelist, around the border are the last words of Christ to Saint John from the passage in Saint Johns Gospel; ‘Ecce matertua ecce filius tuus’ which translates as ‘Behold the mother, behold your son’.

The interior engraved with the Agnus Dei within the latin text ‘Ecce Agnus Dei, ecce qui tollit peccata mundi’ which translates as ‘Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world’.

To the other lids interior is a crucifix surrounded by the latin ‘In hoc signo vinces’ which translates as ‘In this sign thou shalt conquer’.

Measures 6 x 4.4 x 2.5cm (excluding loose bail).

This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance