<em>Reliquary in the Form of a Quatrefoil Cross</em>, 13th century (cross), 9th century (?) (base). Sculpture, 10 3/4 in. (27.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the executors of the Estate of Colonel Michael Friedsam, 32.615. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.32.615_bottom.jpg)

Reliquary in the Form of a Quatrefoil Cross, 13th century (cross), 9th century (?) (base). Sculpture, 10 3/4 in. (27.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the executors of the Estate of Colonel Michael Friedsam, 32.615. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.32.615_bottom.jpg)

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Why is Chinese art in a case with Medieval Cloisonné?

It's surprising at first, right? We're most used to seeing things separated by geography. However, cloisonné is a cross-cultural technique! It was first developed in the Mediterranean basin around 1500 B.C.E. It became highly developed in the Byzantine Empire in the tenth and eleventh centuries and appears to have been transmitted to China via the maritime and overland Silk Routes. It starts showing up in China by the early fifteenth century.

Don't miss the small set of objects showing the different stages of cloisonne --- that really helped me to understand how it is made.

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What is this?

A reliquary is a container meant to house and display relics, objects from the bodies of saints or pieces of saints' possessions. The relic would have been placed inside of the cross-shaped part and seen through the rock crystal in the center.

Tell me more.

This reliquary was used to contain and display a relic in a hollow container behind the central piece of rock crystal. Relics are generally the physical remains of either a holy person or a holy place, and contact with relics was believed to heal the sick and cleanse the soul of sin.

Why was this made in two different times?

The cross, the reliquary itself, was simply attached to an existing base. It is possible that an earlier reliquary needed to be replaced. Perhaps the base had some sort of religious or sentimental value.

A reliquary is designed to hold objects related to Christ or saints because they are believed to have healing powers. The older base may have also contributed to the meaning of this object.

Reliquary in the Form of a Quatrefoil Cross

Decorative Arts and Design

MEDIUM Sculpture

DATES 13th century (cross), 9th century (?) (base)

DIMENSIONS 10 3/4 in. (27.3 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Decorative Arts and Design

ACCESSION NUMBER 32.615

CREDIT LINE Gift of the executors of the Estate of Colonel Michael Friedsam

EXHIBITIONS

Infinite Blue

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Reliquary in the Form of a Quatrefoil Cross, 13th century (cross), 9th century (?) (base). Sculpture, 10 3/4 in. (27.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the executors of the Estate of Colonel Michael Friedsam, 32.615. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.32.615_bottom.jpg)

IMAGE bottom, CUR.32.615_bottom.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2010

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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