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This incredibly rare antique (c1850's) solid brass and Ebony wood "Nuns" Pectoral Crucifix with "scull & cross bones" is an amazing find and my research shows that it is extremely rare. On the back is the Sacred Heart of Jesus encircled with the Crown of Thorns. The crucifix measures 6.45cm wide x 13.3cm high and is in wonderful condition for its age. This as a larger crucifix than one would find on a Rosary. By the looks of it, the Crucifix is from Central America. Please view the pics carefully to fully appreciate this remarkable antique Crucifix and to confirm the condition.
From the internet: "The Crucifix, by definition, is a combination of a Cross and the Corpus. A Cross without a Corpus on it, is a Cross; A Cross with a Corpus on it, is a Crucifix. The word "Crucifix" means "Body on a Cross" and the word "Crucifixion" means "to Hang a body from a Cross". The old inlaid Pectoral and Rosary Crucifixes were all manufactured by hand. Usually you can still see the grinding and file marks and they are not perfectly symmetrical. The most common "inlay material" was Ebony. Other inlays that I have seen include; walnut, rosewood (often stained with wine), oak wood, grape vine wood, olive wood, Gutta-Percha, Bakelite, leather (usually dyed black), and I've been told porcelain and even glass. The rarest of them have a "Skull & Crossbones" on them, attached just below the feet of the Corpus. At the top of the cross is a metal piece with the letters “INRI” in a scroll. These are the initials for the Latin phrase, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” This is what Pilate ordered to be placed on the cross while Christ was being crucified. Above Christ’s head is an elaborate halo. At His feet is the Skull and Crossbones that makes this an especially rare piece. Most inlaid crucifixes were made without the Skull and Crossbones. Quite often when they had them, people pried them off because they felt uncomfortable with them. The age and high quality of this Crucifix is indicated that the Body of Christ is solid and three-dimensional, not hollow in the back as most are. The skull and bones have many symbolic meanings. All Catholics are encouraged to meditate on the “Four Last Things - Death and Judgment, Heaven and Hell”, so that they will live in a state of grace and prepare themselves for Heaven. The skull is a great reminder of human mortality. Jesus Christ was crucified on Golgotha - “the place of the skull”. There is a legend that Christ, the New Adam, who conquered sin and death, was crucified on the grave site of the first man, Adam, who brought sin and death into the world through his disobedience to God. The skull is a symbol of Adam’s grave"
***Spectacular solid brass & Ebony crucifix***
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