Daniel Nicolas vintage wooden wall crucifix

Collection

Identifier: MCC-00498

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of one large wooden crucifix. This vintage brown wooden wall cross has a cream colored and highly detailed metal corpus with halo and the letters INRI printed on a scroll pinned above the body of Jesus. (The initialism INRI represents the Latin inscription IESVS NAZARENVS REX IVDÆORVM (Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum), which in English translates to "Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews").

The ends of the upright post and crosspiece have brown metal inserts. The crucifix measures approximately 18.5 inches high by 10.5 inches wide on ¾ inch thick wood. The body of Jesus from head to toe is 8 inches. The backside has a metal inlay that holds a paper with phrases "Sacred to the Memory of" and "Requiescat in Pace: Amen. Tribute of". (Requiescat in pace is a Latin prayer meaning rest in peace).

This crucifix is quite weighty. There are a few signs of age/use but the crucifix is in very good condition. Pictures of the same crucifix on the web are dated 1927-1930 but the actual date for this crucifix is unknownand and there are no markings to identify the artist.

Dates

Creation: Approximately 1927
Other: 2009-06-10

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions on access.

Historical

The crucifix is first recorded as being used in the fifth century. Prior to this time Christians used the symbol of a lamb to represent Christ. Scholars believe that this was because the cross was still being used as a method of execution and the early followers of Christ did not want to associate Him with this ignoble death.

It wasn't until the Middle Ages that craftsmen began to create intricate crucifixes. Prior to the 1200s Christ was crafted on the cross with open eyes and little sign of suffering. The artists' emphasis was on His resurrection rather than His death. Slowly this changed and within the next one hundred years the represented body of Christ on the crucifix became twisted in agony and bloody. Part of the reason for this was the split between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church, with its doctrinal emphasis on suffering in order to control the sin nature of man.

Crucifixes are associated with Catholicism. Crosses are common symbols in many religions and cultures but the crucifix is symbolic to Christians alone.

The crucifix represents the version of the death and resurrection of Christ and is quintessentially a Catholic icon. Why is the symbol of the death of Christ so important to Catholics? The image of Jesus on the cross is in itself always a sacred sign. The blessing of the Church bestows upon the crucifix spiritual power of protection and grace, making the image into a sacramental, which recalls the victory of Christ on the cross, the redemption through his death.