Fine and rare early 17th century garnet cross pendant

Each of the twelve garnets finely engraved and enamelled with emblems representing the Passions of Christ, close set in gold, the reverse enamelled in blue, green, yellow and black in a beautiful foliate design, centred with an entwined cipher for Maria (Mary)

German, or possibly Italian c.1620

57mm (2 1/4”) long including suspension loop, 27mm (1”) wide
Very good condition - some chips to garnets, small losses to enamel, commensurate with age

For similar examples see:
Object 1978,1002.116 in The British Museum
Rennaisance Jewels and Jeweled Objects, the Melvin Gutman Collection, published by the baltimore Museum of Art, 1968. Object 7, page 46

SOLD