Portable altar

anonymous, anoniem, anonymous, anoniem, c. 1500 - c. 1525

This exquisite portable altar was intended for private devotion. The owner could use it for personal meditation either at home or when travelling. Open, the altar presented a poignant image of ‘Christ as the Man of Sorrows’ standing in his tomb and pointing explicitly at the wounds caused by his crucifixion. This helped the believer to identify with Christ’s suffering.

  • Artwork typesculpture, portable altar
  • Object numberBK-1958-40
  • Dimensionswidth 29.7 cm (openend), height 23.3 cm x width 14.4 cm x depth 6.5 cm (closed)
  • Physical characteristicsoak (case), walnut (figures), polychromy, gilding, silver plate (imitation pearls), coloured glass (imitation gems), lead (rosettes) and copper (hinges and lock)