Devotional Badge with Saint James Flanked by Two Kneeling Pilgrims

Description

In addition to vessels, the glass kilns of Venice produced some devotional badges such as this one. These small objects may have been collected by pilgrims as mementos. This example probably recalls a journey to Santiago da Compostella in distant Spain, one of the greatest medieval pilgrimage destinations. Thought to imitate more valuable carved gems, these glass-plate medallions were made in large quantity by pressing a mold over opaque or transparent molten glass.

Provenance

T. Easton, London (Christie's, London, 3 July 1985, lot 19); (Ellin Mitchell Works of Art, New York).

Devotional Badge with Saint James Flanked by Two Kneeling Pilgrims

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c. 1200–1250

Accession Number

1985.146

Medium

molded green glass

Dimensions

Overall: 2.9 x 2.6 cm (1 1/8 x 1 in.)

Classification

Glass

Museum

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Cleveland, United States

Credit Line

Lawrence Hitchcock Fund