Seven-branched Candelabra in Medieval England
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Tobias J. Bidlingmaier
Abstract
Even though no seven-branched candelabra have survived in England, documentary sources attest to the existence of such monumental artefacts in some of the most prominent churches and monasteries in England. This chapter collates the records of the lost seven-armed candelabra to provide an overview of their temporal and spatial distribution: hitherto, nineteen such candelabra have been identified in medieval England - that is almost half of all known examples in the entire Latin Medieval West to date, even if in some cases the testimony of the sources remains ambiguous. Although these artefacts perished with time or were destroyed (many during the Reformation or the English Civil War), they once ranked among the finest works of medieval craftsmanship. Many had once been commissioned and donated by members of the high clergy, by rulers such as King Cnut the GreatCnut (the Great), King of England, Denmark and Norway, or by members of the high nobility such as Edward DespenserDespenser, Edward. A series of case studies sheds light on the appearance, pictorial programmes, and spatial contexts as well as on the liturgical and memorial functions of the seven-branched candelabra in WinchesterWinchester (Old MinsterWinchesterOld MinsterWinchesterOld MinsterSeven-branched candelabrum), CanterburyCanterburyCanterburyChrist Church CathedralSeven-branched candelabrum, DurhamDurham, ElyEly, and TewkesburyTewkesbury. This chapter thus adds significantly to our knowledge of medieval church furnishings in England, but it also draws attention to their ekphrastic descriptions, which testify to the high esteem in which these impressive monuments were once held. It also enriches our understanding of medieval and early modern aesthetics.
Abstract
Even though no seven-branched candelabra have survived in England, documentary sources attest to the existence of such monumental artefacts in some of the most prominent churches and monasteries in England. This chapter collates the records of the lost seven-armed candelabra to provide an overview of their temporal and spatial distribution: hitherto, nineteen such candelabra have been identified in medieval England - that is almost half of all known examples in the entire Latin Medieval West to date, even if in some cases the testimony of the sources remains ambiguous. Although these artefacts perished with time or were destroyed (many during the Reformation or the English Civil War), they once ranked among the finest works of medieval craftsmanship. Many had once been commissioned and donated by members of the high clergy, by rulers such as King Cnut the GreatCnut (the Great), King of England, Denmark and Norway, or by members of the high nobility such as Edward DespenserDespenser, Edward. A series of case studies sheds light on the appearance, pictorial programmes, and spatial contexts as well as on the liturgical and memorial functions of the seven-branched candelabra in WinchesterWinchester (Old MinsterWinchesterOld MinsterWinchesterOld MinsterSeven-branched candelabrum), CanterburyCanterburyCanterburyChrist Church CathedralSeven-branched candelabrum, DurhamDurham, ElyEly, and TewkesburyTewkesbury. This chapter thus adds significantly to our knowledge of medieval church furnishings in England, but it also draws attention to their ekphrastic descriptions, which testify to the high esteem in which these impressive monuments were once held. It also enriches our understanding of medieval and early modern aesthetics.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- List of Contents V
- Introduction 1
-
I. Tabernacle and Temple
- Das Schicksal des siebenarmigen Leuchters aus dem Jerusalemer Tempel im mittelalterlichen Rom 3
- Priest, Temple, Jewishness, Redemption? 37
- Articulating the geometricalia of Scripture 79
- Vasari and Giambullari on the Menorah, the Tabernacle, and Bezalel 97
- Die Menora in Raffaels Vertreibung des Heliodor und Garofalos Vertreibung der Wechsler aus dem Tempel 143
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II. Image and Exegesis
- tres gradus fidelium in ecclesia 169
- Jewish and Christian Re-Imagining of the Seven-branched Lampstand in the Postilla litteralis of Nicholas of Lyra (d. 1349) 217
- Der siebenarmige Leuchter im Speculum humanae salvationis 243
- The Sanctuary’s Implements 271
- “A Secret Particularly Obscure” 307
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III. Patronage and Memoria
- Aniane and Fulda 341
- Seven-branched Candelabra in Medieval England 365
- Marienwohlde oder Mölln? 415
- Siebenarmige Leuchter im 16. Jahrhundert 443
-
IV. Context and (Re-)Use
- Der siebenarmige Leuchter im Heiligtum von Mentorella (Vulturella) in Latium 475
- „Madonna del Albero, dandole tal cognome quella gran pianta“ 503
- Der siebenarmige Leuchter in der Marienkirche in Frankfurt an der Oder 543
- „den store liusestaken af bronz med dess Siu lampor“ 577
- Survivals and Revivals of the Menorah in Medieval and Early Modern European Synagogues 613
- Figures and Charts 653
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- List of Contents V
- Introduction 1
-
I. Tabernacle and Temple
- Das Schicksal des siebenarmigen Leuchters aus dem Jerusalemer Tempel im mittelalterlichen Rom 3
- Priest, Temple, Jewishness, Redemption? 37
- Articulating the geometricalia of Scripture 79
- Vasari and Giambullari on the Menorah, the Tabernacle, and Bezalel 97
- Die Menora in Raffaels Vertreibung des Heliodor und Garofalos Vertreibung der Wechsler aus dem Tempel 143
-
II. Image and Exegesis
- tres gradus fidelium in ecclesia 169
- Jewish and Christian Re-Imagining of the Seven-branched Lampstand in the Postilla litteralis of Nicholas of Lyra (d. 1349) 217
- Der siebenarmige Leuchter im Speculum humanae salvationis 243
- The Sanctuary’s Implements 271
- “A Secret Particularly Obscure” 307
-
III. Patronage and Memoria
- Aniane and Fulda 341
- Seven-branched Candelabra in Medieval England 365
- Marienwohlde oder Mölln? 415
- Siebenarmige Leuchter im 16. Jahrhundert 443
-
IV. Context and (Re-)Use
- Der siebenarmige Leuchter im Heiligtum von Mentorella (Vulturella) in Latium 475
- „Madonna del Albero, dandole tal cognome quella gran pianta“ 503
- Der siebenarmige Leuchter in der Marienkirche in Frankfurt an der Oder 543
- „den store liusestaken af bronz med dess Siu lampor“ 577
- Survivals and Revivals of the Menorah in Medieval and Early Modern European Synagogues 613
- Figures and Charts 653
