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Source Description
This crozier, possibly made in Sicily in the thirteenth century, is made of ivory with a depiction of an eagle set inside the crook. The curve of the crook is marked with small leaves or tendrils, reminiscent of the swirling vines that form the shapes of illuminated initials in some manuscripts from this period. The sprouting curve ends in the head of a dragon, with his mouth open and ears flattened against his head, and perched within this scroll is an eagle, the symbol of John the Evangelist. The eagle holds a book inscribed with abbreviated forms of the Latin words for "John" and "Evangelist," confirming that this is no ordinary bird, but a symbol of the Gospel author. The eagle turns his head to confront the dragon eye to eye - a depiction of the power of the Word of God to conquer evil. The piece is inset with colored glass, and there is evidence that parts of it were once set off with gold and paint.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
24336
label
Crozier Head with the Eagle of Saint John
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
6
Source metadata
id
24336
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Crozier Head with the Eagle of Saint John
description
This crozier, possibly made in Sicily in the thirteenth century, is made of ivory with a depiction of an eagle set inside the crook. The curve of the crook is marked with small leaves or tendrils, reminiscent of the swirling vines that form the shapes of illuminated initials in some manuscripts from this period. The sprouting curve ends in the head of a dragon, with his mouth open and ears flattened against his head, and perched within this scroll is an eagle, the symbol of John the Evangelist. The eagle holds a book inscribed with abbreviated forms of the Latin words for "John" and "Evangelist," confirming that this is no ordinary bird, but a symbol of the Gospel author. The eagle turns his head to confront the dragon eye to eye - a depiction of the power of the Word of God to conquer evil. The piece is inset with colored glass, and there is evidence that parts of it were once set off with gold and paint.
provenance
Henri Daguerre, Paris, by purchase; Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
date
13th century (Medieval)
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Ivory & Bone
crosiers (episcopal)
imageCount
6
pageCount
6
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
19.6
height
12.1
depth
4.5
dimensionsRaw
H: 7 11/16 x W: 4 3/4 x D: 1 3/4 in. (19.6 x 12.1 x 4.5 cm)
Source extras
cul
Italian
style
Romanesque
med
ivory with paint, glass inlay
creator_ids
6271
collection_ids
MED
exhibition_ids
13
215
335
2289
Page inventory
seq
1
type
photo
mediaId
bab0b02470a90b21
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
2
type
photo
mediaId
4a43c0f9e0644765
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
3
type
photo
mediaId
eb90733e7f5725b1
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
4
type
photo
mediaId
64cf9678e1da3457
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
5
type
photo
mediaId
7869ade2e15614bf
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
6
type
photo
mediaId
dd98173e2ce0d956
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no