Gold Foil Funeral Crosses

The web introduction: Here is the bulk of the documentation on the Gold Foil Funeral Crosses. Some images I do not yet have permission to post, so they are not visible. But I can and will happily share these images privately for research purposes. Just email me at ms154cornell.edu.

I've included a link at the very bottom of the page to the scores that the judges gave for this effort. It's interesting reading. I'll try to dig up the comments and add them... eventually ; >

The MoL site about the Crosses

Metalworking for the Complete non-Metalworker

These crosses are reproductions of the crosses recently found in the grave of an Anglo-Saxon king. From the 6th to the 8th century A.C.E. it was the custom to place small crosses of gold within the graves of important figures. Usually they were sewn to the shroud or the clothing of the deceased. These crosses were found without the usual small series of holes that would indicate their being sewn on, this implies that they were simply placed in the grave. There is speculation as to "why" the crosses were placed in the graves. Were they an indication of the Kings allegiance with Rome? A sign of a defender of the faith? Or donations from the local clergy to the grave of the deceased?

How the originals were made:

The artisan would mark the shape on a thin sheet of gold. The gold could have been hammered or pressed by rolling into a thin sheet. After the design was transferred with a stylus, the shape was then cut out.

How the reproductions were made:

Not wanting to invest in real gold foil I headed to the hardware store. There I purchased 12 inches of 6inch wide .1mm brass flashing for .25 per inch. For the stylus to draw the shape I used a Japanese chopstick, they have a narrower end than the Chinese variety. And then using a pair of kitchen shears I cut out the crosses from the foil. Voila!

Who said history has to be hard!