18th century Italian sliver leaf and mecca cross adorned with gold and silver plated crystal points and mica with tourmaline mounted on a mica and tourmaline in calcite matrix base. The crucifix originally came from a church in Tuscany. The gold and silver plated crystal points replicate the original sunrays or halo around the cross.
The piece is mounted on a mica and tourmaline cluster that is in a matrix of calcite. The mica mineral group includes 34 phyllosilicate minerals, all with a layered, platy texture. It has been known for millennia. "Mica” is originally a Latin word meaning “crumb" for it's flaky appearance. It holds a shimmery appearance that can reflect light - like nature's disco ball. This particular piece is a mica cluster in its matrix form.
The Italian cross is persevered and transformed into a figurative work of old and new with the precious minerals - interpreting the past to create a piece entirely original, evolving in its own right.
This piece recently exhibited in the Museo de' Medici in Florence, Italy as part of The Crucifix Collection.
The Museo de' Medici is located in the monumental Rotonda Brunelleschi which was designed in 1432 and built by Filippo Brunelleschi, a famous Italian architect who also built the Florence dome and who is also considered a founding father of Renaissance architecture. The Museo de’ Medici is devoted to preserving the history of the Medici family and exhibiting precious collections of works of art, historical relics, original documents, faithful reconstructions and multimedia installations.
Size: 37" high x 17.5" wide x 6" deep
94 cm high x 44.5 cm wide x 15 cm deep
