Precious Stones for Decoration of Churches

The sanctuary and treasury of St. Denis contained enormous riches in ecclesiastical ornaments; the former was of solid gold, and was protected against robbers by the following inscription, thus translated: "If any impious person dares to despoil this altar, resplendent in gold, may he perish justly, and be damned like Judas, his companion." This malediction did not, however, prevent the Leaguers of 1590 from pillaging the shrines, and the Revolutionists of 1793, with the same predatory spirit, cleared away the treasures that were left. Some few relics, however, found their way to the Museum of Antiquities, comprising remarkable specimens of gold and jewel work; such as the altar service pretended to have been used by St. Denis, his ring, and pastoral staff, covered with gold, pearls, and enamels. Of the works of the famous Suger, France still possesses the grand chalice and patena, the former ornamented with topazes and amethysts, weighing one hundred and forty ounces. The patena is of serpentine, with gold dolphins in the centre, and precious stones around.

The most remarkable works of the jeweller's art in connection with religious usages are more rare in France than in Germany or Italy; as, for instance, the great chalice of Weingartein, in Suabia, made by Conrad de Husse; the beautiful cross enriched with precious stones at Ratisbonne; the magnificent chalice at Mayence; the chasse given by Frederick Barbarossa to Cologne Cathedral; the chasse of the Three Kings in the same; the golden altar in the chapel of the King at Munich; the famous censer, in the form of a circular chapel, at the Vatican; besides other rich objects in the churches of Italy.

Spain, as might be expected, was particularly rich in ecclesiastical ornaments of the jeweller's art, but wars and insurrections have despoiled the churches of their vast wealth. Still there are splendid relics remaining. Among the treasures in the Cathedral of Seville are the cross made of gold which Columbus brought from America, and presented to the king; also two ostensorios of the fifteenth century, covered with precious stones and magnificent pearls; wonderful vestments, heavy with embroidery and seed-pearls; the crown of Ferdinand; and a magnificent tabernacle altar-front, angels, and candlesticks, all in solid silver, beautiful in workmanship and design. The Royal Chapel at Seville contains the body of King Ferdinand, the conqueror of Seville, in a magnificent silver shrine, with his banner, crown, and sword; a curious wooden statue of the Virgin, adorned by King Ferdinand with a crown of emeralds and a stomacher of diamonds, belonging to his mother Berangera, given on the condition that they should never be removed from the image. The Cathedral of Seville possessed immense treasures in jewels. A vast amount of gold and precious stones was deposited there by Catholics during the period in which all the wealth of a newly-discovered world by Columbus flowed into this city. The Church of the Escurial abounded in precious stones; it has been asserted that a single press in the sacristy surpassed in riches the famous treasury of St. Mark at Venice.

In the sacristy of the Cathedral of Toledo is an exquisite tabernacle of gold brought from America by Columbus, incensories, chalices, crosses, and reliquaries, in gold and enamel, enriched with jewels. The robes, mantles, and ornaments of the statue of the Virgin are encrusted with pearls and jewels. This church eclipsed the Sainte Chapelle at Paris in the splendour of its shrines. Colmenar, who visited it in 1697, describes them as covered with precious stones. The treasury, containing fourteen or fifteen large cabinets, had an amount of wealth incalculable, including two gold mitres, studded thickly with pearls and precious stones, two bracelets, and a crown of the Virgin enriched with large diamonds and other gems, with a large quantity of pearls of immense size. The Virgin was seated on a rock which was covered with jewels, amongst which was a diamond as large as a pigeon's egg. The French, in 1809, completed the spoliation of these riches.

The Cathedral of Zaragoza has been more fortunate in the preservation of some portion of the riches of the jeweller's art. Here are still the most exquisite reliquaries in pearl, precious stones, and enamel; magnificent necklaces; ear-rings with gigantic pearls; coronets of diamonds; lockets; pictures set in jewels; in fact, everything which is most valuable and beautiful has been lavished on this shrine. In the sacristy of the cathedral, called the "Seo," are a magnificent ostensorium, with an emerald and pearl cross; another ornamented with diamonds, etc.