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Prayer nut

WB.238     about 1510–25 • Boxwood • rosary

The prayer nut opens in the hand to reveal the Adoration of the Magi in the upper half. In the lower half is the Pietà with St James the Greater and St Ursula, the name saints of the patrons Jacques de Borsele and his wife Ursula de Foreest. The patrons are included in the scene, kneeling as witnesses. They are identified by their coats of arms on the shields in the foreground.

Curator's Description

Rosary bead; boxwood; carved; opening in two halves; upper half with Adoration of the Magi; lower half with Pietà with St James the Greater and St Ursula; figures of male and female donors kneeling at either side; on table on which they kneel are two paired shields of arms; relief floral scrolls on outside; inscribed.

This object was collected by Anselm von Rothschild and bequeathed to the British Museum by Ferdinand Anselm Rothschild.

Made In

France ?
Belgium ?
Flanders
Northern Netherlands

What is it?

rosary

Made Of

boxwood

Techniques

carved relief

Subjects

saint / martyr heraldry flower adoration of magi pieta Jesus Christ Virgin Mary Caspar Balthazar Melchior St James the Greater St Ursula van Borssele Magi de Borsele, Jacques de Foreest, Ursula

How big is it?

4.9 cm wide, 4.3 cm high, 4.9 cm deep, and it weighs 23g

Where is it?

London / The British Museum / Room 2A / Case 7g 4

Floor plan 2 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 6c 6d 6e 6f 6g 6h 7a 7b 7c 7d 7e 7f 7g 7h 7i 7j Entrance

Detailed Curatorial Notes

Provenance: Baron Anselm von Rothschild, Vienna, by 1866 (cat no. 51).

Commentary: The paired arms are those of Jacques de Borsele, Lord of Gouda, and of his wife Ursula de Foreest, who are shown kneeling as donors. See Read 1902 for possible earlier identifications of the arms.

Comparisons are a prayer nut in the Rijksmuseum (inv. no. BK-1981-1) with an inscription on the outside identifying the owner as Evert Jans van Bleiswijk of Delft (1460-1531) and with two coats of arms for Evert and his wife, Erkenraad von Groenewegen. This example has its original metal case and velvet pouch. Also compare an example in the V&A (inv. no. 225-1866) with blank paired arms and silver fittings, see Paul Williamson, 'Netherlandish Sculpture 1450-1550', London, 2002, no. 48.

Bibliography

  • Charles Hercules Read, 'The Waddesdon Bequest: Catalogue of the Works of Art bequeathed to the British Museum by Baron Ferdinand Rothschild, M.P., 1898', London, 1902, no. 238, pl.XLIX
  • O.M. Dalton, 'The Waddesdon Bequest', 2nd edn (rev), British Museum, London, 1927, no.238
  • Richard Marks, 'Two Early 16th Century Boxwood Carvings Associated with the Glymes Family of Bergen op Zoom', in Oud Holland, Jaarg. 91, No. 3, 1977, p. 140
  • Paul Williamson, 'Netherlandish Sculpture 1450-1550', London, 2002, p.140
  • Evelin Wetter, 'Zwei spätmittelalterliche Betnüsse aus den südlichen Niederlanden', in Monographien der Abegg-Stiftung Bern, 15, Abegg-Stiftung, Riggisberg, 2011, p.58
  • John Lowden and John Cherry, 'Medieval ivories and works of art : the Thomson Collection at the Art Gallery of Ontario', Art Gallery of Ontario, Seattle, 2008, p.138, p.142
  • Dora Thornton, 'A Rothschild Renaissance: Treasures from the Waddesdon Bequest', British Museum, London, 2015, pp.168-171.Image: Group photograph depicts from left to right. the registration number: WB.236, WB.235, and WB.238.

    • References

    1. Read 1902: Read, Charles Hercules, The Waddesdon Bequest. Catalogue of the Works of Art Bequeathed to the British Museum by Baron Ferdinand Rothschild, M.P., 1898, London, BMP, 1902
    2. Dalton 1927: Dalton, Ormonde Maddock, The Waddesdon Bequest : jewels, plate, and other works of art bequeathed by Baron Ferdinand Rothschild., London, BMP, 1927

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