Glazed ceramic egg, part of a hanging ecclesiastical oil lamp, decorated with the design of the Holy Spirit in the form of a winged angel with black crosses on a white background. Since medieval times, these egg-shaped items were placed on the chain which held hanging oil lamps in churches, both Orthodox and Catholic. They were often made of porcelain, beautifully decorated with angels, the sign of the Holy Spirit, crosses and foliage. Sometimes they were real ostrich eggs, sometimes they were made of enamel or wood. In the Orthodox tradition, the church declares that these eggs symbolise the earth. It is believed, though, that they were used in order to prevent the mice climbing on the chain from reaching the lamp and eating the oil.
mmr-00098 > Part of an ecclesiastical oil lamp, 16th century
You can see this exhibit up close, along with many others, in the 2nd-floor exhibition room of CVAR.
