Sterling crucifix

I believe different denominations have their own set of symbols for apostles, sometime causing confusion. Thanks for all the research!

 

Yes I noticed that too. That's why I thought from Spain. It is supposed to have a letter for town such as m for Madrid. I can't see it . I tried to clean with a q-tip, just can't see it under magnification.

 

This has absolutely no relevance to anything at all, but, in Italy, the dance believed to cure the bite of tarantula is called a tarantella.

This is the tarantella music composed for The Godfather...

 

Very sorry Shangas, but that is a fantasy on the tourist tarantella of Naples, which has nothing to do with curing tarantismo.
There are different kinds of tarantellas, for different types/stages of tarantismo. This is a real tarantella, from Puglia:



In rural areas without doctors many diseases were classed as tarantismo, which is why some people were never cured or had recurring bouts of 'tarantismo'.
Mind you, doctors didn't cure that many diseases either, and music probably still does a better job to alleviate pain, etc, than many doctors. L'Arpeggiata can come here and perform La Carpinese to make me feel better any time.

 

I have literally no idea what you just said.

 

The style is pretty general Gothic Revival.
There are two male saints who are depicted with a chalice and a spider. The Dutch st Norbert and the German st Conrad. The legend is the same for both of them, it is not for the squeamish or arachnophobic:
During mass, after the consecration of the wine, a spider lowered itself into the chalice. Because the wine was already consecrated, the saint did not want to throw it away, so he drank the wine with the spider in it. After mass the spider came walking out without a scratch, in the story of Norbert through his nose, in the story of Conrad through his mouth.
This means the crucifix is probably Dutch or German. Since there are no Dutch marks, my guess is German, and not very old.
The other saints are:
Keys - Peter
St Andrews cross - Andrew
Quill and book - Matthew (who can also be depicted with the angel who inspired him to write the gospel)

 

Which part?

 

This bit:

Very sorry Shangas, but that is a fantasy on the tourist tarantella of Naples, which has nothing to do with curing tarantismo.

 

Oh, right, I was referring to the Godfather tune which you posted.
It is 'inspired' by a dance tune made for tourist entertainment in Naples. The dance is the lively Italian folk dance you often see in movies:


The genuine tarantellas, like the one I posted, are meant to cure 'tarantismo', the affliction caused by the bite of a tarantula or scorpion.
Tarantellas can be any speed, depending on the stage of the illness.

 

Thank you all for the info. I have a lot of leads now.

 

Hi AJ,

Yes I knew that already. That's why I was confused...

 

We live in a confusing world....

 

Here's one very similar from a Spanish web site that seller claims circa 1930. Saints identified as the Four Evangelists: San Matthew, Saint Mark, Saint Luke y Saint John.

Debora