Ways to discover the collection

Bronze sculpture

Bronze, a metal alloy created by blending copper and tin over fire, symbolises constancy, glory and honour and was therefore the material of choice for instruments used for divine services such as candleholders, censers or pouring vessels. In the Middle Ages, the most commonly used bronze casting process was lost-wax casting. In this process, a wax model is coated with a heat-resistant material. When heated, the wax melts out of the mould, leaving it hollow. Liquid bronze is then poured into the mould.

Male Figure as Candleholder (Acolyte), Byzantine Empire, 6th cent., cast bronze, h. 23.5 cm, inv. no. H 851, © Rheinisches Bildarchiv

Candle Bearer (Acolyte)
Byzantine Empire, 6th cent.

Censer, Aachen (?), 9th cent., cast bronze, H. 10.2 cm, inv. no. H 46, © Rheinisches Bildarchiv

Censer
Aachen (?), 9th cent.

Crucifix of a Processional Cross, Rainer von Huy (?), Liège, c. 1110/1120, bronze (yellow brass), 16 x 17 cm, Inv. No. H 70, © Rheinisches Bildarchiv

Crucifix of a Processional Cross
Rainer von Huy (?)
Liège, c. 1110/1120

Container in the Form of a Church Model, Lower Rhine (Cologne?), 11th/12th cent., bronze, 5.3 x 10.1 cm, inv. no. H 43, © Rheinisches Bildarchiv

Container in the Form of a Church Model
Lower Rhine (Cologne?), 11th/12th cent.

Lion’s Head Door Pull, Magdeburg (?), c. 1150, cast bronze, Ø 23 cm, inv. no. H 20, © Rheinisches Bildarchiv

Lion’s Head Door Pull
Magdeburg (?), c. 1150

Base of an Altar Cross, Rhine-Meuse region, last quarter of the 12th cent., cast bronze, h. 15.5 cm, inv. no. G552, © Rheinisches Bildarchiv

Base of an Altar Cross
Rhine-Meuse region, last quarter 12th cent.

Vessel for the washing of hands (aquamanile) in the Shape of a Lion, Central Germany (Saxony ?), 2nd half 13th cent., bronze, 21 x 22.5 cm, inv. no. H 45, © Rheinisches Bildarchiv

Vessel for the washing of hands (aquamanile)
Central Germany (Saxony ?), 2nd half 13th cent.

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