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Plate showing Samson breaking the lion's jaw

Forge work

Anonymous

16th century

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This piece is part of the mass-production of German late-Gothic 'dinanderies', now attributed primarily to Nuremberg. This piece has three borders struck and engraved surrounding Samson breaking the lion's jaw (Judges, 14:5), one of the most common themes. Indeed, mediaeval theology had established Samson as the forerunner of Christ, and a parallel had been constructed between the death of the lion and the Son vanquishing Satan and opening the gates of hell. Considering that the most habitual use for these plates was for collecting alms, the invocation of Christ's, and therefore the Church's, power to redeem, was very clearly linked to the salvation deriving from financial help. It was a theme valued equally in Catholic and Protestant areas, the reason for their huge circulation.

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Location

Room20 ,Floor2

18 Leather

19 Gold, Silver and Metalworking Arts

20 Forge Work

21 Ceramics

22 Study Galleries

Detalls de l’obra

PLACE OF EXECUTION

Germany

PERIOD

16th century

Material

Brass embossed, engraved and struck

Dimensions

4 x Ø36 cm

Origin

Provenance unknown

WORK NUMBER

MEV 691