0278. Ecce Homo Enamel Medal
1900 Early
s Ecce Homo pendant with enamel decorationWith minimal signs of wear consistent with its age
The frame and suspension element were crafted with a 14 -karat gold-leaf frame and 14 -karat gold mountings, a material frequently used in period jewelry making as it is durable yet suitable for delicate craftsmanship.
Ecce Homo
The Latin expression "Ecce homo" means: "Behold the man".
According to the Bible (Gospel of John 19:5), it was spoken by Pilate when he led Jesus out before the crowd, flagellated and crowned with thorns. Since then, the expression has often been used in religious art to depict Jesus in this scene, but it also occurs metaphorically when someone is presented in their suffering and humiliation. In everyday parlance the expression is usually employed when someone is seen in a fallen, exhausted, or worn-out state, and thus ironically remarked: "well, behold the man".
The frame and suspension element were crafted with a 14 -karat gold-leaf frame and 14 -karat gold mountings, a material frequently used in period jewelry making as it is durable yet suitable for delicate craftsmanship.