Early Christian Silver of North Italy and Gaul

Abstract

The Evidence cited elsewhere in this issue of The Art Bulletin by Alexander Soper concerning the place of the north Mediterranean area in the history of Early Christian art may be materially increased by the consideration of a number of liturgical silver objects which can be assigned to north Italy or Gaul. The first of these to be treated, the silver gilt amula in the Museo Sacro of the Vatican (Fig. 1),1 reproduces so closely the iconography of the casket from Pola that it must be related to it in provenance. The body of the amula displays three decorated registers that are divided by rope borders from blank intermediary spaces. The upper register contains a cross flanked on either side by two doves, and at the back behind the handle a column bearing the impost of an arcade. In the central band is a row of medallions containing a bust of Christ flanked on the right by busts of St. Peter, who faces Him, and of a beardless Apostle; and on the left by busts of St. Paul, also facing Him, and of a bearded Ap...