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THE BOOK OF THE PEARL
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The
inventory made in 1634 of the ornaments, etc., contained in the abbey
of St. Denis, offers some new material and a fuller description of a
few of the objects mentioned in the inventory of 1534. The most
noteworthy entries are given below :
A
golden scepter upon a staff of wood. The scepter bears the figure of
Charlemagne seated upon a throne ; at the corners are two lions and two
eagles (one of the latter was lacking in 1634). The figure holds a
scepter in its right hand, and a globe surmounted by a cross in its
left; on its head is a crown with a large, round, oriental pearl valued
at 200 livres ($135). The throne rested on a fleur-de-lys, beneath
which was a ball of gold ornamented with eight oriental pearls. Around
the throne was the inscription : "Sanctus Carolus Magnus Italia Roma
Gallia Germania," and three clusters of three pearls each. The value of
this scepter was given at 3300 livres, or about $2200.
The
reliquary of the hand of St. Thomas. Two angels, resting on a
silver-gilt base, bore the crystal receptacle containing the relic. The
ornamentation consisted of eight clusters of four large pearls each,
with a small diamond in the center. On the hand was a gold band bearing
the inscription : "Hie est manus beati Thomae apti. quam misit in latus
domini nostri Jesu Christi." On the hand was a pontifical ring set with
a large sapphire. The reliquary also bore the images of St. John the
Baptist, of St. Thomas, and of the Virgin Mary. It was valued at 5590
livres, or about $3700.
A vessel made of a porphyry resembling jasper and embellished with forty-six pearls; estimated at 1500 livres ($1000).
A
cope given by Anne of Bretagne, Queen of France, and bearing six scenes
from the life of the Virgin Mary embroidered in gold and pearls ; the
whole bordered with pearls and gold of Cyprus. On the cope were the
letters A and S, and the words "plutost mourir." There were two ounces
of pearls. Valued at 2000 livres ($1350).
A
vase of rock crystal, of antique workmanship, with a cover and base of
silver-gilt ; the top decorated with a band of amethysts, garnets, and
sapphires, alternating with Scotch and oriental pearls. On the base are
various precious stones and twenty-three Scotch and oriental pearls,
and the inscription "Hoc vas sponsa dedit Anor. regi Ludovico." This
vase was given by Eleanor of Aquitaine to her husband, Louis VII of
France ( 1137— 1180), by whom it was bestowed upon Suger, Abbot of St.
Denis ( 1082-1152). The goldsmith work and decoration belong to the
time of Suger. The vase is now in the Louvre.
A
chalice of agate, with two handles, and engraved with the figures of
men, animals, and birds. It stood on a foot of gold adorned with
sixteen sapphires, forty-four pearls, and twenty-two clusters of
fourteen pearls each. This chalice rested upon a paten of porphyry
decorated with seven fishes inlaid in gold, and with a bordering of
pearls and precious stones disposed around the edge. Both together
valued at 25,000 livres (about $16,000).
A
vase of agate with a foot of silver-gilt, and furnished with a cover
and a spout in the form of a serpent, both of silver-gilt. Around the
base an inscription : "Dum libare deo gemmis debemus et auro, Hoc ego
Sugerus offero
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