A 17th / 18th century Italian rock crystal plaque of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane


the gold and enamelled mount probably Spanish 19th century,Oval, with fine engraving showing Christ praying whilst Peter and the two sons of Zebedee; James and John, sleep nearby, the frame highlighted in blue enamel stringing and white enamel dots, applied 'flowers' of agate spheres and enamelled leaves, the millstone-form hanger with red, white and blue enamelled decoration, height 14.5cm, length 18cm.
|In Venice in the 17th and 18th century rock crystal plaques were used to create elaborate caskets to hold wedding contracts. A casket made in the 19th century in Spain with similar plaques is held by Patrimonio Nacional, Madrid, Palacio Real (inv. 10012357) as published in Letizia Arbeteta Mira, Arte transparente, (Madrid 2015), p.57.