Object Record
Images
Additional Images [1]
Metadata
Catalog Number |
2020.007.002 |
Object Name |
Crucifix |
Description |
This celluloid crucifix is mounted on red velvet within an antique Parisian frame. The donor writes: "The corpus of this crucifix is made of celluloid and was probably molded in the late 1880s. At the time, celluloid was seen as a substitute of elephant ivory and often disguised as such. When viewed under a 10 x magnifying glass one can see slightly greyish parallel lines embedded in the material of the corpus' chest, the 'INRI' plaque, and arms near the chest. These lines were made to mislead a buyer into thinking this corpus contained dentine lines as seen in ivory carvings. The real give away is that the dentine lines in this corpus are perfectly parallel. This is something not seen in real elephant ivory where the dentine lines may actually cross each other, depending on how the ivory was cut. The frame was made by a well-known Parisian frame maker in the early 1900s. There is an aged and fragile label attached to the bottom of the back of the frame. The Latin style cross is probably from the early 1900s as is the red velvet. The 'nails' in the hands and feet are probably from the 1700s. I presume the well molded corpus and velvet were mounted in this frame to misdirect buyers as to the overall value of the fake ivory corpus. Celluloid, the first synthetic plastic, was developed in the 1860s and 1870s from a homogenous colloidal dispersion of nitrocellulose and camphor. A tough, flexible, and moldable material that is resistant to water, oils, and dilute acids and capable of low-cost production in a variety of colors, celluloid was made into toiletry articles, novelties, photographic film, and many other mass-produced goods. Its popularity began to wane only toward the middle of the 20th century, following the introduction of plastics based on entirely synthetic polymers." |
Date |
c. late 1880s |
Collection |
Sacred and/or Religious Artifacts Collection |
Material |
celluloid, velvet, wood |
Subjects |
sacred |
Search Terms |
sacred |