votive crown

This is now a rare example of a medieval votive crown that has survived above ground.

Votive crowns have continued to be produced in Catholic countries in modern times.

The particular type of the votive crown, originally Byzantine, was also adopted in the West.

There were pagan votive crowns in the ancient world, although these are essentially known only from literary references.

The Treasure of Guarrazar of votive crowns and crosses is the most spectacular.

Gems were used to decorate elaborate pieces of goldsmith work such as votive crowns, book-covers and crosses, sometimes very inappropriately given their subject matter.

A votive crown is a votive offering in the form of a crown, normally in precious metals and often adorned with jewels.

The most valuable of all is the votive crown of king Reccesuinth with its blue sapphires from Sri Lanka and pendilia.

"The gold and pearl mount is identical to those that decorated book covers, chalices and votive crowns in the 10th and 11th centuries," Mr. Ward said.

The most valuable remaining pieces of the find are the two royal votive crowns: one of King Reccesuinth and one of King Suinthila.

Some comparable Visigothic filigree gold was found in 1926 at Torredonjimeno in the province of Jaén, consisting of fragments of votive crowns and crosses.

Surviving crowns with pendilia include the Holy Crown of Hungary and many votive crowns of the Treasure of Guarrazar from Visigothic Spain.

According to a story told by Vitruvius, Hiero suspected he was being cheated by the goldsmith to whom he had supplied the gold to make a votive crown for a temple.

The sunburst motif is characteristic of Baroque church metalwork, especially monstrances and votive crowns, and Art Deco and Art Nouveau styles as well as church architecture.

Its small size and hinged construction have suggested to some that it was originally a large armlet or perhaps a votive crown; according to others, the small size is due to a readjustment after the loss of two segments, as described in historical documents.

The Crown of the Andes is a votive crown from Colombia in gold with 450 emeralds, apparently made between the late 16th and 18th centuries, perhaps originally as an offering in thanks for the city of Popayán being spared from a plague.

Another is the Visigothic polychrome votive crown (picture) of Recceswinth, King of Toledo, found in a votive crown hoard of c. 670 at Fuente de Guarrazar, near Toledo.

According to Vitruvius, a votive crown for a temple had been made for King Hiero II, who had supplied the pure gold to be used, and Archimedes was asked to determine whether some silver had been substituted by the dishonest goldsmith.

Vitruvius records that when Hiero II of Syracuse (died 215 BC) suspected his goldsmith of cheating him over the making of a votive crown for a statue in a temple, for which he had supplied the gold to be used, he asked Archimedes to devise a test.

Pendilia (singular pendilium; from Latin pendulus, hanging) or pendoulia (the Greek equivalent), are pendants or dangling ornaments hanging from a piece of metalwork such as a crown, votive crown, crux gemmata, or kamelaukion, and are a feature of Early Medieval goldsmith work.