{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O105577"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O105577/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AC7369/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AC7369/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AC7369","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AC7370","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2018KP4173","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O105577/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O105577","accessionNumber":"M.1-1952","objectType":"Monstrance","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"A monstrance was used in Roman Catholic worship to display the Sacred Host, or consecrated bread. It was placed on the altar or held up in procession, particularly at the Feast of Corpus Christi (the ‘body of Christ).\r\n\r\nMany manufacturers copied or adapted medieval designs to sell as church furnishings or to collectors. This monstrance has an eclectic mix of stylistic details from the 15th century and later. Together with the prominent but false maker’s mark, they suggest it was made to deceive a collector rather than for a church.","physicalDescription":"Twisted openwork spire surmounted by a crucifix and serving as the canopy for a statuette of the Virgin and Child which caps the hexangonal dome surrounded by openwork tracery.  The above is supported by two twisted, canopied niches containing figures of St. Peter and St Paul.  The hexagonal stem which is engraved with tracery, is surmounted by a capital which bears two enamelled coats of arms; (front: Party per chevron gules and arg, two lilies conjoined countercharged; back argent three thistles proper, in chief gules, three roses argent), depressed knop with six lozenge shaped bosses engraved with two crosses and the symbols of the evangelists.  Spreading foot with four rounded and two ogee lobes engraved with 1) The Saviour, 2) St. Catherine, 3) a crowned female martyr, 4)  The Virgin and Child, 5) St. Barbara, 6) a crowned female martyr holding a pyx.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Bossard","id":"A11038"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28674"},"note":"probably"}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"},{"text":"gold","id":"AAT11021"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silver, parcel-gilt","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Religion","id":"THES48900"},{"text":"Christianity","id":"THES48978"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006AC7369","2006AC7370","2018KP4173"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"83","id":"THES49711"},"free":"","case":"CA4B","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Monstrance","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Germany","id":"x28873"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"probably southern"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1840-1850","earliest":"1840-01-01","latest":"1850-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by W.L. Hildburgh","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"36","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"9.50","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"On the base: mark of V within a heart shaped outline.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"The mark probably spurious."}],"objectHistory":"Originally thought to have dated from c.1530, this object is now recognised as a piece of 19th century historicism. This object was displayed in the Fakes Gallery during the 1990s. A note in the Metalwork Section register attributes the workmanship of this piece to the late-nineteenth-century Bossard workshop in Lucerne, but it does not bear the Bossard mark and so the attribution is perhaps unlikely.","historicalContext":"The Gothic Revival\r\nIn the Victorian period a dramatic and profound change took place in religious life. Centred on a renewed interest in the Middle Ages, it affected the appearance of churches and how services were conducted. The influential architect A.W.N. Pugin promoted the Gothic as the true Christian style. Although Pugin was Catholic, his theory appealed to Anglicans of the Oxford Movement - radicals who hoped to restore pre-Reformation services to the Church of England.\r\n\r\nThe Cambridge Camden Society, founded in 1839, studied the past to identify the medieval architecture and furnishings that would be appropriate for the revived services. The society became an arbiter of style, offering an Anglicised version of the Gothic. By the 1870s some of the equipment normally found in Catholic worship, such as the ciborium, was appearing in Anglican churches.\r\n\r\nIt was not universally welcomed. Some observers found the incense, the altar cross and the emphasis on ritual scandalously 'Popish' or 'high church'.\r\n\r\nThe Gothic Revival in Europe\r\nThe Gothic revival in Europe owed more to nationalism than religious zeal. The completion of Cologne's medieval cathedral was an affirmation of German culture. In the Habsburg empire, Czechs and Hungarians similarly expressed national pride through Gothic architecture.\r\n\r\nChampions of the Gothic claimed by the 1850s that the style was triumphant in Europe. But classical architecture remained a serious rival, even in church building. Much of the most important Gothic work was in church restoration. In Germany and France, goldsmiths like Franz Xaver Hellner supplied Gothic church furnishings.","briefDescription":"Liturgical vessel or monstrance, silver, parcel-gilt, probably south Germany, 1840-1850","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Althöfer, Heinz, et al., eds. <u>Fälschung und Forschung: Ausstellung Museum Folkwang Essen</u>. Essen: Museum Folkwang, 1976. Catalogue of the exhibition at the Museum Folkwang, Essen, October 1976 - January 1977 and at Berlin, Skulpturengalerie, January - March 1977. \r\n \r\n \r\n"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Unique","id":"THES48864"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Jesus","id":"N2525"},{"text":"St. Catherine","id":"N2823"},{"text":"Mary (Virgin Mary)","id":"N480"},{"text":"Barbara (Saint)","id":"N928"},{"text":"Peter (Saint)","id":"N400"},{"text":"Paul (Saint)","id":"N401"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"martyrs","id":"AAT188714"},{"text":"crowns","id":"AAT46020"},{"text":"crosses","id":"AAT235443"}],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"martyrdom","id":"x35248"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Monstrance\r\nA monstrance was used in Roman Catholic worship to display the Sacred Host, or consecrated bread. It was placed on the altar or held up in procession, particularly at the Feast of Corpus Christi (the 'body of Christ).\r\n\r\nMany manufacturers copied or adapted medieval designs to sell as church furnishings\r\nor to collectors. This monstrance has an eclectic mix of stylistic details from the\r\n15th century and later. Together with the prominent but false maker's mark, they\r\nsuggest it was made to deceive a collector rather than for a church.\r\n\r\n\r\nProbably southern Germany, 1840-50\r\nSilver, partly gilded\r\nMuseum no.M.1-1952. Hildburgh Gift","date":{"text":"22/11/2005","earliest":"2005-11-22","latest":"2005-11-22"}},{"text":"MONSTRANCE\r\nSilver, partially gilt and engraved\r\nProbably South German; late 19th century\r\nThe architectural form and cast figures are based on late 15th century German examples. These are combined with early 17th century scrollwork, neo-Gothic engraved ornament and figures and a prominently-placed, spurious maker's mark.\r\nGiven by Dr. W. L. Hildburgh","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["M.1-1952"],"accessionNumberNum":"1","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1952,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2021MU8971"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-08-14","recordCreationDate":"2004-09-22","availableToBook":false}}