Marienwohlde oder Mölln?
-
Jochen Hermann Vennebusch
Abstract
The monumental seven-branched candelabrum, today kept at the parish church of St Nicholas (St Nicolai-Kirche) in MöllnMöllnNikolaikircheMöllnMöllnNikolaikircheSeven-branched candelabrum, challenges art historians and local historians alike. Stylistic and technical arguments point to LübeckLübeck as the place of its production. The base of the candelabrum bears two inscriptions indicating when the artefact was cast (1436) and when it was renovated (1669) by the Guild of the Stecknitz Boatmen (Amt der Stecknitzfahrer). According to local tradition (and modern scholarship), the candelabrum originated in the Bridgettine Convent of Marienwohlde near Mölln, from where it was allegedly stolen. The thieves then sank it in the River Stecknitz in order to hide it when they found themselves being pursued. When the Stecknitz Boatmen recovered the candelabrum from the river, they allegedly placed it in the St Nicolai-Kirche. However, it turns out that no source substantiates this tradition; on the contrary: documents relating to the Guild of the Stecknitz Boatmen indicate that the candelabrum was situated in the St Nicolai-Kirche from the outset. The St Nicolai-Kirche where the boatmen attended services during the journey on the trade route far from their base in Lübeck had become their lieu de mémoire. The reasons for the development of a local tradition linking the candelabrum to the Bridgettine Convent remain somewhat obscure, especially as Marienwohlde was dissolved as early as the 16th century. Close analysis of the inscriptions as well as of the archival documents demonstrates, however, that scepticism with respect to traditions (and their continuation into modern scholarship) is essential for a critical approach to pre-modern artefacts.
Abstract
The monumental seven-branched candelabrum, today kept at the parish church of St Nicholas (St Nicolai-Kirche) in MöllnMöllnNikolaikircheMöllnMöllnNikolaikircheSeven-branched candelabrum, challenges art historians and local historians alike. Stylistic and technical arguments point to LübeckLübeck as the place of its production. The base of the candelabrum bears two inscriptions indicating when the artefact was cast (1436) and when it was renovated (1669) by the Guild of the Stecknitz Boatmen (Amt der Stecknitzfahrer). According to local tradition (and modern scholarship), the candelabrum originated in the Bridgettine Convent of Marienwohlde near Mölln, from where it was allegedly stolen. The thieves then sank it in the River Stecknitz in order to hide it when they found themselves being pursued. When the Stecknitz Boatmen recovered the candelabrum from the river, they allegedly placed it in the St Nicolai-Kirche. However, it turns out that no source substantiates this tradition; on the contrary: documents relating to the Guild of the Stecknitz Boatmen indicate that the candelabrum was situated in the St Nicolai-Kirche from the outset. The St Nicolai-Kirche where the boatmen attended services during the journey on the trade route far from their base in Lübeck had become their lieu de mémoire. The reasons for the development of a local tradition linking the candelabrum to the Bridgettine Convent remain somewhat obscure, especially as Marienwohlde was dissolved as early as the 16th century. Close analysis of the inscriptions as well as of the archival documents demonstrates, however, that scepticism with respect to traditions (and their continuation into modern scholarship) is essential for a critical approach to pre-modern artefacts.
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
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
