Medieval Iron Alms box, Middle Ages; church collection.
03
days
12
hours
29
minutes
02
seconds
Current bid
€ 240
Reserve price not met
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Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 1,400 - € 1,700
 | €240 | |
|---|---|---|
| €2 | |
 | €1 |
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Medieval iron offertory box for church collection, dating to the mid-16th century, with a fixed triangular lock and rear wall hook, measures 27 cm high with the handle (18 cm without), 10 cm diameter, and the triangular lock is about 6 cm, authentic original and in good condition, acquired in 2024 from Germany, previously owned by a Galerie/antiquities dealer in 1970.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Pew Box of the Middle Ages, collection box made of iron, mid-16th century with a triangular hasp. In churches, collections or donation boxes are still preserved to this day; they continue to be used to collect donations from churchgoers.
The word part “Stock” (from Opferstock) refers to the containers originally made from hollowed-out tree trunks or stumps. The term is also used for donation boxes made from other materials such as metal or stone, or firmly installed in the church’s masonry.
Historically, the deployment of donation boxes in churches is said to have been ordered for the first time by Pope Innocent III in the bull Quia maior 1213 to finance the Fifth Crusade. This provoked discontent in many places; among others, Walther von der Vogelweide criticized this practice as a pretext for expanding the Lateran in his Sprüche des Unmutstons.
When donation boxes exist in churches, they usually accompany the offerings conducted during services with the alms bag, and often have a different purpose: while offerings typically benefit a specific project or aid organization (which is announced beforehand), money donated from the donation box is often used for general parish needs or for longer-term fundraising purposes such as church renovations, organ construction, or social projects.
This donation box has a curved hook on the back; this hook was anchored firmly in the masonry. The exact designation is “Mauerhaken” (wall hook) and, being firmly anchored, it served to prevent theft. Through the staple, the donation box could also be secured or hung with a chain.
The height of the donation box, with the staple, is 27 cm; without the staple, 18 cm. The diameter is 10 cm. The triangular lock is about 6 cm in size.
The staple cannot be moved anymore. The triangular lock is locked and is without a key. The donation box with triangular lock was acquired in 2024 without a key and heavily rusted, and was cleaned by a restorer at a very great effort and cost. A really beautiful object and also very decorative.
The donation box shows no rusting through; the iron has good substance."
Pew Box of the Middle Ages, collection box made of iron, mid-16th century with a triangular hasp. In churches, collections or donation boxes are still preserved to this day; they continue to be used to collect donations from churchgoers.
The word part “Stock” (from Opferstock) refers to the containers originally made from hollowed-out tree trunks or stumps. The term is also used for donation boxes made from other materials such as metal or stone, or firmly installed in the church’s masonry.
Historically, the deployment of donation boxes in churches is said to have been ordered for the first time by Pope Innocent III in the bull Quia maior 1213 to finance the Fifth Crusade. This provoked discontent in many places; among others, Walther von der Vogelweide criticized this practice as a pretext for expanding the Lateran in his Sprüche des Unmutstons.
When donation boxes exist in churches, they usually accompany the offerings conducted during services with the alms bag, and often have a different purpose: while offerings typically benefit a specific project or aid organization (which is announced beforehand), money donated from the donation box is often used for general parish needs or for longer-term fundraising purposes such as church renovations, organ construction, or social projects.
This donation box has a curved hook on the back; this hook was anchored firmly in the masonry. The exact designation is “Mauerhaken” (wall hook) and, being firmly anchored, it served to prevent theft. Through the staple, the donation box could also be secured or hung with a chain.
The height of the donation box, with the staple, is 27 cm; without the staple, 18 cm. The diameter is 10 cm. The triangular lock is about 6 cm in size.
The staple cannot be moved anymore. The triangular lock is locked and is without a key. The donation box with triangular lock was acquired in 2024 without a key and heavily rusted, and was cleaned by a restorer at a very great effort and cost. A really beautiful object and also very decorative.
The donation box shows no rusting through; the iron has good substance."
Details
Culture
Medieval
Century/timeframe
1550
Name of object
Alms box, Middle Ages; church collection.
Acquired from
Antique market
Year acquired
2024
Material
Iron
Country acquired from
Germany
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Gallery / Antique dealer
Previous owner - year acquired
1970
Previous owner - country acquired from
Germany
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
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