Locket

Unknown

14th century · Basse taille enamel, silver-gilt · Medieval Art

This pendant once contained a small disk of wax, blessed by the pope during the Easter season and worn as a kind of amulet. The back shows a lamb, a symbol of Jesus, and is surrounded by a Latin inscription that translates: "Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us." Pregnant women sometimes wore such pendants for protection.

Artist

Unknown

Date

14th century

Medium

Basse taille enamel, silver-gilt

Culture

French

Department

Medieval Art

Credit line

Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917