Výtvarné hodnoty a ideogram na kovaných krížoch na sakrálnych objektoch v okolí Bardejova
Artistic values and ideogram on forged crosses on sacral objects in the vicinity of Bardejov

Author(s): Martin Mešša
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, Cultural history, Architecture, Local History / Microhistory, 17th Century, 18th Century, 19th Century, History of Religion
Published by: Masarykova univerzita nakladatelství
Keywords: cross; blacksmith’s works; Christian signs; Christian symbolic; Bardejov; sacral architecture;
Summary/Abstract: In north-east Slovakia, complex as well as simply-forged crosses have survived at sacral buildings and in museum collections. Craftsmanship and artistic sense of the blacksmiths in the 17th to 19th century made from forged crosses, placed on churches, bell towers and chapels an interesting picture of folk plastic art, which however was conditioned by theological teaching, regulated, and controlled by church dignitaries. The basic types of crosses are enriched by a lot of other symbols and signs crafted as one unit. Some forged crosses can be found at their original place and in their original function even today, some others are not complete, or crosses of the basic shape replaced them later, because the signs and symbols gradually lost their importance in human mind or because the Christian learning and its interpretation changed. The basic types of crosses, the signs used and the symbolism of the crosses and combinations thereof say something about the time of their origin. The applied signs created an ideogram, but mostly more ideograms connected into one unit. Every forged cross not only is a set of signs or ideograms, but – to a certain extent – also an artistic element making the whole building complete.

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