Two curved, silver disks are joined together by a decorated rim to form a capsule like medallion or pendant. Such objects were used in the catholic mass as an osculatorium or tabula pacis (tablet of peace) for conveying the kiss of peace. Among the few extant late medieval examples of the same size this pax occupies a special position because of the high quality of the engraved scenes on each side. Scaled down according to the proportions of the golden section and adapted to a circular shape, the two scenes from the passion are copies of martin schongauer's well known engravings of the agony in the garden and the arrest of christ. They are attributed attribution to the close circle of the famous colmar painter and engraver and his brothers georg, a goldsmith and paul, who was in basle between 1489 and 1491. The collector basilius amerbach already noted in his 1585-87 inventory that the pax was "engraved by martin schon'". Date: between circa 1490 and circa 1500. Dimensions: Dm.12 cm. Medium: silver. Collection: Basel Historical Museum. Schongauer, Martin Umkreis - Pax Amerbach Cabinet HMB 1878-42
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