When the medieval grave of a young woman was uncovered near Wolmirstedt in Saxony-Anhalt in 2000, a very special pendant was found on the neck of the approximately 22-year-old woman: what later became known as the "Cross of Wolmirstedt".
This cross pendant is really unique: it is the only pendant of this kind found in Germany so far byzantine origin. The silver cross, which is so important precisely for this reason, probably dates from the 12th or 13th century and must have reached Central Germany from the Byzantine culture area despite the considerable distances on the trade routes of the time. The pendant worn on a fine chain in the form of a “latin cross” to the union of the heavenly with the earth: the vertical arm of the cross symbolizes the divine – the horizontal arm of the cross symbolizes the connection with the earth.
The State Museum for Prehistory in Halle as the current owner and keeper of the original find, commissioned us to make replicas of this extraordinary cross pendant for his museum shop. Having already seen replicas of the “Magic Ring of Paussnitz” for the shop of the museum in Halle, we were particularly pleased about this renewed order.
The "Cross of Wolmirstedt" recovered from the woman's grave showed strong signs of wear and tear, it was probably worn very often and for a long time. The replicas were intentionally designed to undo this wear and tear, making it look as if the Byzantine goldsmiths had just completed the crosses.
Like the original, our replica is made of 925/- sterling silver and was decorated with the spherical and recessed ends of the cross arms in our studio created once on the basis of an existing template as a prototype and the final appearance was coordinated with the Förderverein des Landesmuseums Halle - as the operator of the museum shop.
After approval of this "original version" of the Cross of Wolmirstedt by the Förderverein in Halle, a detailed cast and an initial mold were made by our precious metal supplier. As a result, we are now in a position to deliver future repeat orders from the museum particularly cheaply, at short notice and always in the same high quality and in any desired quantity.
We are very happy to be able to further intensify our cooperation with German museums with this and another current order. At the same time, the LVR LandesMuseum Bonn contacted us again to have a replica of a Roman Optio ring reworked in our studio in preparation for an exhibition. But more on that shortly...