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Author
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Topic: I'm curious about this cross
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Bob Hurley
Member
Member # 58
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posted 06-24-2001 08:19 PM
   
My wife found this at a thrift shop, and I'm trying to identify the style. I'm sure it's modern, but it seems to me to be a piece of some particular significance due to the amount of detail on the back, something that isn't common on simple costume pieces.I'd hazard (probably the right word here) a wild guess that it's a Jerusalem cross, and the main cross is fleury which may indicate French. The fastener looks to me to be a hawks' lure. Could this be a copy of a symbolic cross of some French chivalric order?
http://www.bobhurley.net/armour/cross_front.jpg
http://www.bobhurley.net/armour/cross_back.jpg I'm curious about the center top figure on the back. I vaguely remember that crossed legs on an effigy have a particular signifance, but can't for the life of me remember what it is. Anyone? The scanner didn't pick up all the detail on the back. The upper left crosslet is engraved "Jerusalem", the lower left "silver". If it is, I need to clean it up because it looks pewter.
Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged
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Ron M
Member
Member # 39
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posted 06-24-2001 08:54 PM
Hello Bob, The Cross pictured is in the style of the "Jerusalem Cross", popular during the Crusades. Also, the crossed-legs appearing in effigies refers to the deceased having participated in the Crusades.Don't have any references, just something I remembered from High School. Hope this helps. -------------------- Ron Moen
Registered: Jul 2000 | IP: Logged
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Fire Stryker
Admin & Advocatus Diaboli
Member # 2
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posted 06-24-2001 09:13 PM
Hi guys, the pattern in which the crosses are displayed/layed out can be likened to the King of Jerusalem's coat of arms, however, the cross types depicted are cross patonce and not proper cross potentsand cross couped.Bob, if you have Fox-Davies A Complete Guide to Heraldry you can find the cross types on page 129. Also, I don't know if you have Woodward's A Treatise on Heraldry British and Foreign but an image of Jerusalem's can be found on page 108 figure 1. I believe Ron M is correct in that it is believed that the crossed legs on an effigy figure signifies that they died during the Crusades. Hope this helps, Jenn [ 06-24-2001: Message edited by: Fire Stryker ] -------------------- ad finem fidelis
Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged
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Bob Hurley
Member
Member # 58
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posted 06-24-2001 09:25 PM
Thanks, both of you, that puts me a step closer.The image in question also has a halo, which I believe commonly implied that the subject was a saint. Does anyone remember a saint who died on crusade? St Louis, maybe? I'm also guessing that the bottom engraving might be Soloman's temple. The right engraving looks to me to be a nativity. I can't fathom the one on the left. The bridge looks Roman in the shape and proportion of the arches. And the star in the middle of the back is a complete puzzle. Our public library has a book on the regalia of the military orders, I think I may find some answers there. It's a fun project, wherever it leads.
Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged
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