Cross with wooden core and gilded silver plates, engraved br - Lot 22

Cross with wooden core and gilded silver plates, engraved brass. Caravaca cross with double crossbars, adorned with engraved and stamped plates decorated with foliage friezes; two ornaments hang from the lower arms: a rock crystal weight and a light amber pearl. Eight cabochons are set, one of which is a nicolo intaglio, three amethysts, a turquoise and a carnelian pearl. Spain, 16th century. Height: 19.4 cm - Length: 8.4 cm (wear from use) Expert : Mr. Benoît Bertrand The Cruz de Caravaca is a reliquary in the form of a cross with two crossbars containing a fragment of the cross of Christ. According to tradition, it belonged to Patriarch Robert, the first bishop of Jerusalem, conquered from the Muslims by the First Crusade (1099). According to tradition, the cross miraculously appeared in Caravaca on May 3, 1232. At that time, Caravaca was ruled by a Moorish king, Zayd Abu Zayd, who held many Christians in his prisons, including a priest, Ginés Pérez Chirinos. The latter made it known that his function was to say mass "during which God himself offers himself as a victim for mankind and descends on the altar at the prayer of his minister". The king was very interested to hear this, and ordered him to celebrate mass in his presence in his palace. The priest replied that certain objects were needed for the celebration. The king then dispatched a messenger to Cuenca with orders to bring back whatever was required. The priest began the service in the presence of the king and his court. But as he approached the altar, he realized that a cross was missing, and that it was impossible to celebrate mass without a cross on the altar. Then suddenly, in a dazzling light, a double-beamed cross appeared, carried by two angels. It later turned out that the cross was that of the Patriarch of Jerusalem. King Zayd and his followers later converted to Christianity. The festivities commemorating this prodigious event are held every year from May 1 to 5 in Caravaca.