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St. Catherine's Cross BY-153
France 1.40" x 1.40" $81.
This cross was inspired by the cross design of the wheel window in the Cathedral of Bayeaux, France. Bayeaux Cathedral was built on an old Roman site and was consecrated 14 July 1077.
Wheel windows are also called St. Catherine windows because St. Catherine was condemned to die on a spiked wheel. There is a legend that when she touched the wheel it shattered. After the 17th century, round church windows were called ‘rose windows’ because of their elaborate stained glass designs.
Christmas Cross DM-200904
Contemporary 2.5" x 2.5" $95.
This cross is a festive design whose inspiration comes from scroll work on a beautiful iron gate at the Cathedral of St. Germaine de Pres in the sector of the same name in Paris, France.
The design incorpor-ates what appears to be a holly motif with an unfolding lily. I found it to be very elegant and expanded this single motif into a four-armed cross.
Beaux-Arts de Paris Cross DM-200903
France 1.75" x 1.12" $40.
The Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux Arts, is the most famous of a number of influential art schools in France. It’s origins date back to 1648 and was founded to educate the most talented students in the fine arts. The school has trained many of the great artists in Europe, preserving classical forms and passing the style on to future generations.
The school is located on the left Bank in Paris across the Seine from the Louvre. The design for this cross was inspired by a stone carving decorating the outer wall of the school.
Besalu Cross BY-151
Spain .75" x .75" $30.
The medieval walled town of Besalu, Spain sits at the place where the rivers Fluvia and Capadella meet in the hills of Catania. You enter the town across a 12th century Roman bridge. In the main square is the Church of Sant Pere. It is the last remaining part of the Benedictine Monastery founded in 977 by Earl-Bishop Miro. I found this simple cross while exploring one of the many cobble stone streets leading to the main square.
Pardon Cross DM-200908
Italy 1.75" x 1.125" $40.
This cross was declared an indulgence by Pope St. Pius X in 1905 and was approved in the pardon of the living and the souls in Purgatory in 1907.
The word indulgence originally meant kindness or favor. In Latin it meant the remission of a tax or debt. Under Roman law it was used to express release from captivity or punishment. In this instance, an indulgence is given to remit the temporal punishment of sin that has been forgiven.
1830 Pardon Cross DM-200907
Italy 1.75" x 1" $35.
This cross was an indulgence, an ap-proved pardon of the living and the souls in Purgatory. In this instance, the Virgin Mary is invoked to intercede for the sinner.
The word indulgence originally meant kindness or favor. In Latin it meant the remission of a tax or debt. Under Roman law it was used to express release from captivity or pun-ishment. In this instance, an indulgence is given to remit the temporal punishment of sin that has been forgiven.
St. Joan of Arc Cross BY-147
France 1" x 1" $46.
The simple 13thcentury La Chapelle et Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc conserves the memory of St. Joan of Arc. It is built on the site of a former chapel that was dedicated to Saint Genevieve in 475. This chapel is the place where St. Joan of Arc spent the night in prayer before launching the assault on Paris. This cross was inspired by the sweep of the vaulted nave where she prayed.
Lourdes Cross DM-200830
France 1.5" x 1" $30.
On 11 February 1858, a 14-year-old girl, Bernadette Soubirous, claimed a beautiful lady appeared to her in the remote Grotto of Massabielle and identified herself as the Blessed Virgin Mary. The lady appeared 18 times, and by 1859 thousands of pilgrims were visiting Lourdes each year. A statue of Our Lady of Lourdes was erected at the site in 1864. Since the apparitions, Lourdes has become one of the world’s leading Catholic Marian shrines. This cross is similar to early indulgence crosses sold to pilgrims at Lourdes.
Murio Acenarius Cross BY-154
Spain 1.25" x .75" $82.
On 16 June 1214, Murio Acenarius was appointed the 46th Major Prior of San Juan de la Pena monastery. After his death in 1252, this cross and inscription were carved into the stone of the cliff that protects the monastery.
The old monastery is on the pilgrimage road to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The road is called the Camino de Santiago of Saint James Way. It is the route taken by the pilgrims when they brought the body of St. James the Greater from the Holy Land back to Galicia for burial in 44 AD. In 830 AD King Alfonso II ordered the monastery of San Juan de la Pena to be built on the burial site of St. James. May of the early Kings of Aragon are also buried here. Many believe that it was also where the Holy Grail was hidden.
St. Agnes Cross BY-149
France 1" x 1" $37.
Saint-Eustache Cathedral is one of the largest cathedrals in Paris after Notre-Dame de Paris. It has it’s origin in an earlier church dedicated to St. Agnes. It wasn’t until 1532, when it became necessary to enlarge the town square, that the mayor of Paris started construction on the new cathedral. It was finally completed 100 years later and consecrated on the 26th of April 1637. While many famous Parisians like Moliere and Richelieu are buried in the cathedral, this cross is dedicated to St. Agnes. The design came from a small cross in the side chapel of St. Agnes.
St. Trinite Cross BY-148B
France 1.12" x 1.12" $55.
The design for this cross was inspired by the facade of the Church of the Trinity in Paris, France. The church was built in 1867 and is the product of the Industrial Revolution and the Second Empire. It is located in the 3rd arrondisse-ment of the city near the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Montmartre. This is a very typical quarter of Paris known as Pigalle. This cross, in a smaller size, is also available as earrings. by-148A
Sedona/Oak Creek Cross DM-200905
Contemporary 2.25" x 1.65" $45.
The town of Sedona, Arizona is situated within limits set by towering cliffs of red sandstone which were carved over millennia by the patient abrasion of a stream now known as Oak Creek Canyon. Although huge Arizona sycamore trees set their feet in damp soil along the creek bed, the ancient elders of the canyon are the hardy oak trees that persist in the arid reaches of rock and cactus above.
This cross is a free form design based on acorns and oak leaves, symbolizing the per-sistence of the human spirit in the face of trial and adversity.
Norse Crucifix DM-200902
Sweden 1.65" x 1.25" $40.
This design is taken from the earliest known Norse crucifix. It dates from the 10th century and was discovered in a grave at Birka in Sweden. The original was silver gilt.
New Additions to the Collection
St. Ninian's Cross DM-200826
Scotland 1.50" x 1.12" $40.
Very little is known of St. Ninian, but it is believed that he came to Scotland as a Christian missionary in 397AD from Ireland. He is acknowledged as Scotland’s first saint.
Ninian settled in what is now county Galloway in the early trading community of Whithorn. As early as the 7th century people have made pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Ninian at Whithorn, believing in the Saint’s power to cure illnesses and perform miracles.
St. Anne's Cross, Sacre Coeur DM-200901
France 1.5" x 1.5" $35.
An angel appeared to Anne, the wife of Joachim, who was childless and ad-vanced in years. She was told that, “Anne, the Lord hath heard thy prayer and thou shalt conceive and bring forth, and thy seed shall be spoken of in all the world.” And thus Anne became the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
This cross is inspired by a wrought iron design before the alter of St. Anne in the Basilica of Sacre Coeur atop Mont-matre in Paris, France. St. Anne is the patroness of house-wives, women in labor. A special altar at the Sacre Coeur is dedicated to the women and children at risk in occupied France during WWII.
St. Genis Cross DM-200828
Spain 1.75" x 1.25" $40.
The Esglesia de Sant Genis is located in the heart of the old city of Torrella de Montgri in the Basque country of northern Spain. St. Genis is a beautiful church, rich in history and having a special altar to one of the ‘black virgin’ statues which appeared in many places in Europe at about the 12th century AD. This one is a copy of the original at the nearby Monestir de Montserrat. The black virgin was declared the patroness of Catalonia in 1881.
This cross is inspired by bronze Stations of the Cross within the cathedral.
Sign of the Fish Cross DM-200909
Italy 1.75" x 1.75" $45.
The sign of the fish is one of the most frequent images used by early Christians. The Greek word in the center is an acrostic that stands for the initial five letters of Jesus name, Jesus/Christ/of God/the Son/Savior. The acrostic was used by the 4th century, if not earlier. Tradition records that during the early years of persecution the sign of the fish was used by Christians to identify each other. This cross is taken from an image inscribed on the walls of the Calixtus catacombs.
St. Thomas Cross DM-200910
Finland 1.25" x 1.25" $45.
One of the folk crosses carved in Finland is the St. Thomas cross, consisting of a filigree of wood shavings. St. Thomas Day is celebrated on the fourth day before Christmas. It is a holiday custom to place this cross on a table with the Advent candles.
Thomas was the disciple of Jesus who, according to the Gospels, seemed to have more questions and doubts than clear and firm belief. The purpose of this cross is to encourage those who have questions to seek comfort and peace in faith.
German Trade Cross DM-200911
New World 2"" x 1.5"" $48.
Silver crosses were among the gifts given to Indian converts by missionaries during the European colonization of the Americas. They became a trade item with the fur companies; in 1792, one could obtain two small crosses for a single medium sized beaver pelt.
The forms were usually a Latin or double-armed cross. This cross is a replica of one of the more intricate designs from Germany. Silver was generally obtained from melting silver coins.
Luther Rose Cross DM-200912
Germany 1.5" x 1.5" $45.
Martin Luther (1483-1546) wrote, “The cross alone is our theology.” He believed one knows God not through works but through suffering, the cross, and faith. In 1516 Luther changed his family coat of arms from a crossbow and two white roses to a cross and rose. “This heart is fixed upon the center of a white rose to show that faith causes joy, consolation and peace.”
This motif became the seal for the Lutheran Church.
Santa Maria de Ripoll Medallion BY-152
Spain 1.25" x 1.25" $89.
The Basilica of the royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Ripoll was founded in 880 by Count Guifre el Pelos, Wilfred the Hairy, and was consecrated eight years later. His tomb is to the left of the main altar. The new Basilica was consecrated in 1032.
The design for this cross came from the Altar Major de Santa Maria, the main altar in the Basilica, dedicated to Santa Maria.
The Stations Cross Medallion BY-150
France 1.40" x 1.40" $107.
Saint-Eustache Cathedral is one of the largest cathedrals in Paris after Motre-Dame de Paris and was built on the same Latin cross plan. It was begun in 1532 and wasn't finished until 100 years later. It was consecrated on the 26th of April, 1637. This cross is uned to mark the Stations of the Cross in the cathedral.
Viking Dragon Cross DM-200827
Sweden 1.75" x .75" $35.
This cross is based on a 10th century pendant from Fossi, Iceland. It may have been a Thor’s Hammer design, but also resembles a Christian cross.
In many cultures Christian missionaries blended pagan sym-bols with their own in order to make the new Christian religion more familiar to the recently converted.
St. Magnus Cross DM-200916
Scotland 1.5" x 1.25" $30.
Two cousins, Magnus and Hakon, ruled the Isle of Orkney, Scotland, until 1117 AD when a conflict developed and Magnus was captured during a peace negotiation and executed. He was buried in the church-yard at Birsay where the rocky area around his grave miraculously became a green field. There were reports of miraculous healings and the bishop, who had warned of “heresy to go about with such tales” was struck blind.
A cathedral was built at Kirkwall to honor the piety and gentleness of Magnus. Constructed from alternating bands of local red and buff sandstone, the cathedral is one of the finest and best preserved medieval cathedrals in Scotland. This cross is inspired by a carved wooden cross in the nave .
St. Agata of Catania Cross BY160
Historically, the city of Catania, Sicily has been reborn from the ashes of every eruption of the volcano, Mt. Etna. Most believe that is because Saint Agata (Saint Agatha), their patron saint, watches over them.
On the 4th and 5th of February, during the Festival of Saint Agata, her image rides through the city on her silver fercolo (car-riage). This cross was inspired by the beautiful crown she wears in that procession.
Sicily 3.35" x 3" $163.
The McKeown Cross Collection
