plaque (ritual & belief: representations)

One of three carved mother-of-pearl shells. Carved mother-of-pearl shell, depicting the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. She is depicted with a halo, above a layer of clouds, from which three winged heavenly beings emerge, the one on the left with the appearance of a cherub, that in the middle with a female body. A border which surrounds all but the top of the image contains inscribed depictions of two vegetal stems which stretch to left and right from a table or altar-shaped element at the middle of the lower edge of the shell. A small projection above the middle top. Inscribed 'Assunzione di Maria Vergine'.

this type of object was acquired by pilgrims to the Holy Land in 18th and 19th centuries

object
MUSEUM NUMBER
1359
PLACE
COLLECTION
MEASUREMENTS
overall: 130 x 130 x 30 mm
MATERIAL/TECHNIQUE
shell
CATEGORY
Anthropology: Ethnography
LOCATION
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Collection Information

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