A masterpiece of Ottonian era art, the Heinrichskreuz is the gemstone cross associated with the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry II, fashioned in the eleventh century -- with further augmentations occurring during the Renaissance and nineteenth century. Originally this cross was part of the imperial treasury before being donated to the cathedral of Basel; today it is located in the Museum of Decorative Arts in Berlin.
In looking at this precious crux gemmata, the influences and prestige of Constantinople and the Eastern Roman (or Byzantine if you prefer) Empire, can be clearly enough seen, for if anyone mastered and promoted this type of work, it was surely the Byzantines. The idea, of course, wasn't opulence for opulence's sake, but rather a symbolic emphasis on Christ's ultimate triumph and victory (rather than death and suffering) and symbol of divine power.
The cross itself is fashioned from an oak core that has then been covered in silver, gold plating, and then further augmented with pearls and gemstones. At its axis we can find an antique Roman era 'phalera' -- an imperial Roman era military decoration repurposed within this context for its own distinctive decorative reasons as well as with the idea of reinventing the symbolism with Christological meaning.
This particular cross also contains various relics within it, including relics of the True Cross embedded beneath rock crystal. Originally there was also a relic of the Holy Blood but regrettably that is now missing. Added in later centuries were relics of the Emperor Henry II, with whom this cross is associated, who was canonized in the twelfth century, as well as some of the other decorative elements, most notably the base.
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| Photo © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin / Fotostudio Bartsch |
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| The Roman era phalera |
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| Relic of the True Cross |
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