Portable Altar of Countess Gertrude and Two Crosses
Title
Portable Altar of Countess Gertrude and Two Crosses
Type of Object
Devotional objects, altar
Medium
Gold, cloisonné enamel, porphyry, gems, pearls, niello, wood core
Place of production
Germany, possibly Lower Saxony
Approximate date
11th century
Original setting
The Portable Altar and devotional crosses were commissioned by Countess Gertrude of Braunschweig for Braunschweig Cathedral, which she founded in 1030. Both the crosses and Portable Altar contain inscriptions explicitly dedicating the works to Gertrude. The crosses were likely made between 1028 and 1077, and the altar was most dedicated to the countess's daughter, also named Gertrude.
Current location
Cleveland, Ohio
Current Institution
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Collection
Citation
“Portable Altar of Countess Gertrude and Two Crosses,” Medieval Art and the American Public: A Digital Narrative, accessed February 28, 2021, http://medievalartus.ace.fordham.edu/items/show/28.