**Originally Listed At $800**

East Asia, North Vietnam (French Indochina at the time) or Southern China (Portuguese Macao or Guangdong Provence), ca. late 19th century CE. A splendid rosewood apostle's cross boasting ornate mother-of-pearl inlay decoration. Nicely complementing the warm, caramel hue of the rosewood, the lustrous nacre shell depicts an elaborate starburst motif at the central crux, as well as acanthus leaves at each trefoil finial and a ladder with flags serving as an "Instrument of the Passion" that denotes the Deposition of Christ near the base. The form of this cross is known as the cross botonee, used in Western heraldry as well as religious art - where the three lobes at each finial are said to represent the Trinity. Size: 8" W x 14" H (20.3 cm x 35.6 cm)

A similar, though larger, apostle cross hammered for 27,500 GBP (equivalent to $42,836.75 at the time) at Christie's London on May 11, 2015 (lot 14, "European Courts Encounter Japan," Live Auction 11671.

Provenance: ex-Harlan J. Berk, Chicago, Illinois, USA

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#178362

Stable surface fissures to arms and minor nicks to surface, as well as some small areas of loss to nacre inlay. Otherwise, intact and very nice with good remaining detail and elegant overall form.