Typological cross

3D ModelNoAI

Typological cross, Mosan workshop, around 1150-1175, Soul of wood, champleved enamels, silver and copper engraved and gilded, plates of silver, rock crystal cabochons. Musée du Cinquantaire (Brussels, Belgium). Made with 216 with MetaShape from Agisoft.

This cross, remarkably preserved, is part of an important series so-called typological crosses. It is adorned with champleve emulsion prefiguring the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross: the offering of Cain and Abel, Aaron inscribing on the front of the Israelites the tau sign (formal prefiguration of the cross), the brazen serpent, the inscription of the sign tau at the gate of houses. The typological symbolism consists of going to search in the Old Testament of prophetic events announcing major episodes Gospels. This theological process was a source of inspiration constant for Mosan artists.

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