Brass crucifex ... any idea of age?

[GoingDown]

Found in the yard of a 1860-1880 yard ... any ideas? 4 inches deep

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Agony and Death on a Gold Rush Steamer: The Disastrous Sinking of the Side-Wheeler Yankee Blade - Grab it through Amazon!

[hollowpointred]

i dont know about its age, but its a really cool find!

 

[MiddenMonster]

Found in the yard of a 1860-1880 yard ... any ideas? 4 inches deep

Looks like a standard rosary crucifix...

Keep digging around it and see if you find a chain or beads.

 

[Monk]

The skull and crossbones at the feet of Christ wasn't put on the cross after 1835 is my understanding! I own a cross much like that one. Hope this helps.

 

[Montana Jim]

Monk... good call. No idea on the age but this interesting article explains the piece:
http://www.catholicherald.com/saunders/06ws/ws060427.htm

And... if your into other possibillities like secret meanings, then this site offers a more intriquing option as to the meaning: http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread184753/pg1

And this much less interesting explaination: "You will see on some Crucifixes a skull and crossbones at the foot of the Cross. Aside from symbolizing victory over death, this skull more specifically represents the skull of Adam, said in Jewish and Christian tradition to have been buried at Golgotha, where Jesus was crucified. The Blood of Christ, the New Adam, redeems man, as symbolized by the skull of the First Adam. I Corinthians 15:22, 45: "And as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive...The first man Adam was made into a living soul; the last Adam into a quickening spirit."

Google "crucifix with skull crossbones"... there is a lot out there

 

[kenb]

Very cool, I've never seen one with skull and cross bones.

kenb

 

[Montana Jim]

E-BAY:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ANTIQUE-ROSARY-...9QQihZ010QQcategoryZ11670QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Wheezy]

Very interesting find.