A MOTHER-OF-PEARL-INLAID ROSEWOOD APOSTLE CROSS, VIETNAM, NGUYEN DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURYSupported on a triangular socle, finely inlaid with mother-of-pearl depicting Christian symbols including the implements of passion at the lower terminal, the upper three terminals ending with lotus, acanthus leaves, and scrolling vines, and inscribed to the top with INRI.Provenance: British trade. Acquired from a private vendor who found this piece in a small, regional market in France.Condition: Good condition with expected traces of age and wear, few nicks, light scratches, small chips, minor old repairs with associated remnants of adhesive. Fine, naturally grown patina overall.Weight: 444.2 gDimensions: Height 45 cmThe initialism INRI represents the Latin inscription (in John 19:19), “Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum”, which in English translates to ‘Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews’. In the New Testament, Jesus is referred to as the King of the Jews, both at the beginning of his life and at the end. In the narrative of the Passion of Jesus, the title ‘King of the Jews’ leads to charges against Jesus that result in his crucifixion.The three upper terminals of the cross correspond to a design known as the cross botonée, used in Western heraldry as well as religious art – where the three lobes are said to represent the Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.十九世紀越南阮朝嵌螺鈿紅木十字架三角形底座上，精美鑲嵌基督教符號螺鈿，上端的三個端部為纏枝蓮紋，下端受難器具，並可見 INRI字樣。