Enamelled Gold Cross with Instruments of the Passion, Germany 17th Century

Enamelled Gold Cross Pendant with the Instruments of the Passion.

German, Early 17th Century.

High carat gold, almandine garnet, and polychrome enamel.

Measurements: 3.7 × 2.3 cm (excluding loose bail).

Weight: 4 grams.

A finely executed devotional pendant in the form of a Latin cross, worked in high carat gold and elaborately decorated on both sides. The obverse is set with twelve table-cut almandine garnets, each enclosed within raised rub-over collets and inset with finely painted polychrome enamel scenes. These depict symbols of the Arma Christi—the Instruments of the Passion—including the scourge, hammer and pincers, the column of flagellation, rooster, dice, crown of thorns, and other emblematic motifs associated with the Crucifixion narrative. The upper terminal is enamelled in black and bears the gilt inscription “INRI”, an abbreviation of Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum—“Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”—traditionally placed above Christ on the Cross.

The reverse is ornamented with guilloché enamel in translucent green and opaque white, forming a cross with stylised foliate terminals. The pendant retains its original integral suspension loop. Minor historical damage is evident: three garnets display small losses or internal fractures consistent with age and devotional use, while sections of the green and white enamel on the reverse have been sympathetically restored.

This pendant typifies early 17th-century German devotional jewellery, in which vivid enamelwork and miniature Passion iconography converge in portable, contemplative forms of piety.

Comparisons:
A closely related pendant cross is held in the British Museum, London (Museum no. 1872,0604.897), featuring similarly set garnets and enamelled Instruments of the Passion, along with ornamental terminals mounted with pearls.
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_1872-0604-897

Another comparable example, likewise German and dating to the early 17th century, was sold at Sotheby’s, Old Master Sculpture & Early Jewels, London, 1–7 December 2021, lot 43. That cross pendant also features table-cut garnets with enamelled Passion symbols and a reverse decorated in foliate enamels.
https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/old-master-sculpture-early-jewels/german-17th-century-pendant-cross-with-the