Sterling crucifix

Hi all, I am new to the forum. I have been trying to find out more about this. I'm fairly certain it's from Spain. Only marks are 925 and an insect, a spider I think. Thank you in advance.

 

It's very pretty and so ornate! But I doubt that "spider" (it looks like one to me too) is any kind of silver marking or maker's mark. Spanish marking conventions place the maker's mark inside a hexagram.

 

Thank you for your feedback. This is just one of my many unsolved mysteries. (I'm sure we all have those)

 

Just spent a few minutes looking for references to the symbols of the saints and the apostles and did not find one with a spider. Several with bees, but no creepy crawlies.

Maybe if you showed closeups of the other 3 men we could establish a pattern.

 

Welcome, why do you believe its from spain? and any pictures of the reverse? Also size since on this forum size is important to some (sic) ( tongue in cheek comment )

 

St Paul and a tarantula?

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-tarantula-possessed-women-who-could-only-be-cured-by-dance

 

http://www.birdspiders.com/world.php
During the late 1950's, an Italian ethnosociologist still found tarantati victims who went every year on June 28 & 29th to the chapel and holy well of St. Paul in Galatina, Italy, to seek a cure from the tarantism. In earlier times, St. Paul had become the patron saint for tarantula bite victims. Paradoxically, St. Paul was reported not only to be able to cure bite victims but sent tarantulas to bite sinners!

 

Wow, so many different directions to look! I have this encased, so can't access the back immediately. It's about 5 1/2 inches high. The other apostles have nothing around them. That is interesting about the tarantula.

 

I was thinking Spain because of the style, maybe it was just a guess.

 

But what are they holding? The one on our left with the key should be Peter, but the one at the top appears to be holding the cross upside down. The one on our right has a book but other thing(s) too?

 

Here's the back. One is holding a feather quill and paper. He is the evangelist, I think.

 

On the left it does look like St Peter with a key

 

Makes sense to me
........

Don't want to post on more than 1 board, but I posted a plate in Glass and pottery, with a beautiful sterling applied boarder, if anyone knows anything about that either, is appreciate it.

 

Where is the 925 stamp? A close photo of that area might be helpful.

It is a gorgeous cross.

P.S. Don't worry about posting on more than one board for a question on a different item. Commonly done here, no problem at all.

 

The 925 is just off the left shoulder (his left not our left) of the man is the very first picture. Half of the 5 is out of the screen.

 

This is on the same apostle as the spider .

 

Peter with the key. He was crucified upside down, but not likely to be here twice, so I'm thinking that's the cross of St. Andrew. Probably Paul (possibly Jerome) with the pen. Doing this off the top of my head, so not sure about the figure with the cup, although first thought is of the Last Supper and, Drink this, this is my blood. Before I looked closely, was expecting it would be the Evangelists, but evidently not.

 

Thanks, Bakers and Huntingtreasure I see it now. Was thinking it was on the back of the cross.

 

It seems a chalice is associated with St. John, just not as his symbols as an evangelist (an eagle), & with a snake or serpent of this type to indicate it is poisoned:

 

There does seem to be another tiny tiny mark next to the 925. Any chance of getting it?