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Model of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem

This ornate model, decorated with ivy and mother-of-pearl, depicts the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. This church is extremely significant in Christianity, as it is believed to be the site of Jesus' crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. Detailed and beautiful models like this would have served as an impressive (and expensive!) souvenir of a visit to this important site.

This object is on display

Object type

Models

Date

Production: 17th century - 18th century

Subject(s)

Bearers of the Cross
Pilgrimage
Religion and Devotion

Inscriptions

TYPVS.S.S.SEPVLCHRI.DNI.NRI.IESV.CHRISTI.++.

+BVC:OCHE+SIDICE:ESER+MEZO+MVNDI:

LO:VNTON+DNI:NOSTRI IESV:

CHIESA:DI:/:CRECI

APITA/SVRIANI

SACELUM/APESCINI

CHARC/ERE/CPX

ORIENS

MERIDIEES

PONENS

IHS

The Gift of Lieut. R.C. Luxmoore 1944. No.3

Dimensions

Height x width x depth: 490 x 560 x 350mm

Materials and technique

Wood, inlaid with ebony, mother of pearl and ivory

Production place

Bethlehem
Palestine

Related place(s)

Jerusalem

References

Coüasnon, Charles. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre: The Schweich Lectures 1972. Oxford University Press, 1972.

Piccirillo, Michele. La Nuova Gerusalemme: Artigianato Palestinese al Servizio dei Luoghi Santi. Edizioni Custodia di Terra Santa, 2007.

Weetch, Rosie. "Models of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre." YouTube video, 00.02.54. Posted by @museumoftheorderofstjohn3763 April 14, 2016. Accessed September 18, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3KY0CU3vzk

Foakes, Tom, ed. Treasures: Faith, Care, Valour: Highlights from the Collection of the Museum of the Order of St John. Priory of England and the Islands of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, 2019.
Pages 74 - 75

Provenance

The model had been a part of the Portland Museum collection, amassed by Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Portland in the 18th century.

The model was sold in April 1786 following her death and purchased by a relative of Richard Luxmore, Lot 2428.

Richard Luxmore gifted the model to the Museum in 1944 before departing for Normandy during the Second World War.

Exhibition history

Holy City, Holy War: Devotion to the Sacred in Crusader Jerusalem, Museum of the Order of St John, 2 September 2017-22 December 2017

Credit line

Gift of Richard Luxmore, 1944

Catalogue number

3035