devotional pendant

A large, circular devotional pendant with paintings on both side. One is the charming image of the seated infant John the Baptist. He holds a cross in one hand while; with the other he pets the head of a lamb. (The lamb of God; symbol of Jesus.) One the other side is the moving image of Saint Catherine of Alexandria patron saint of philosophers and scholars. A high-born, outstandingly intelligent young women, Catherine became a Christian convert at age 14. She appeared before and advised Joan of Arc often. Here she holds a scourge and a sword; a fragment of a wheel is to her left. These are symbols of her martyrdom. (The severed head at her feet is presumably that of her tormentor, the pagan Emperor Maxentius who tried and failed to have her give up her religion). The pendant’s frame is decorated with bright green enamel and white pink and green enamel ornaments and gold flowers, European, 18th century.

Provenance: family Saxe-Meiningen, near Freiburg. Princess Adelaide, the daughter of George I Duke of Saxe-Meiningen, became Queen Adelaide following the coronation of her husband as King William IV of England.