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Prayer nut

WB.237     about 1510–25 • Boxwood • rosary

In the top half St Hubert sees a vision while out hunting of the crucified Christ in the antlers of a stag. In the lower half St Hubert is enthroned as a bishop.

Curator's Description

Rosary bead or prayer-nut; boxwood; carved; opening in two halves; upper half with St Hubert adoring the stag; trees and huntsmen in background; lower half: enthronement of St Hubert following consecration by Pope Sergius [?]; outside pierced with tracery of intersecting curves, containing quatrefoils; two silver-gilt plates at top and bottom with suspension loops.

This object was collected and bequeathed to the British Museum by Ferdinand Anselm Rothschild.

Made In!

France ?
Belgium ?
Flanders
Northern Netherlands

What is it?

rosary

Made Of

boxwood silver

Techniques

carved pierced relief gilded

Subjects

cleric hunting / shooting mammal saint / martyr tree / bush St Hubert

How big is it?

4.3 cm wide, 4.3 cm high, 2.9 cm deep, and it weighs 16g

Where is it?

London / The British Museum / Room 2A / Case 7g 6

Floor plan 2 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 6c 6d 6e 6f 6g 6h 7a 7b 7c 7d 7e 7f 7g 7h 7i 7j Entrance

Detailed Curatorial Notes

Provenance: None is recorded.

Commentary: This prayer but can be compared with WB.239 for the distinctive manner in which the trees are carved and may be by the same maker.

Bibliography

  • Charles Hercules Read, 'The Waddesdon Bequest: Catalogue of the Works of Art bequeathed to the British Museum by Baron Ferdinand Rothschild, M.P., 1898', London, 1902, no. 237, pl.XLIX
  • O.M. Dalton, 'The Waddesdon Bequest', 2nd edn (rev), British Museum, London, 1927, no.237
  • Hugh Tait, 'Catalogue of the Waddesdon Bequest in the British Museum. 1., The Jewels', British Museum, London, 1986, pp.51-56, figs.36-37.

    • References

    1. Read 1902: Read, Charles Hercules, The Waddesdon Bequest. Catalogue of the Works of Art Bequeathed to the British Museum by Baron Ferdinand Rothschild, M.P., 1898, London, BMP, 1902
    2. Dalton 1927: Dalton, Ormonde Maddock, The Waddesdon Bequest : jewels, plate, and other works of art bequeathed by Baron Ferdinand Rothschild., London, BMP, 1927

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