Cloisters Cross

Another states: Terra tremit mors victa gemit surgente sepulto; Vita cluit Synagoga ruit molimine stult[o], or in English, "The earth trembles, death groans as the buried one arises; Life is called, the Synagogue falls through its stupid endeavours.

[7] If the plaque was part of the base of the cross, this would reinforce an antisemitic intent, as it places the Jew Caiaphas as the judge responsible for Jesus' crucifixion.

Though it is impossible to know precisely who commissioned this piece and with what aims, the cross certainly offers some indication of the antisemitism prevalent in England at this time.

[11] Stating that the book had not dealt with the antisemitism of the object head on, instead attempting to apply discretion to the topic, his review also expressed doubt that the cross was English, as a number of the images and themes, including the figure of Synagoga piercing the Lamb of God, and depictions of Jews wearing conical hats, imply a German or eastern European rather than English origin.

Thomas Hoving, who managed its acquisition while associate curator at The Cloisters, concluded that it was carved by Master Hugo at Bury St Edmunds Abbey in Suffolk.

However, beyond stylistic affinities in the carving and inscriptions, there is no certain evidence to suggest that the cross was even made in England; although this is accepted by most scholars, other places of origin such as Germany have been proposed.

Mimara had connections with Hermann Goering and showed part of the object in Rome to Vatican art historian Wolfgang Fritz Volbach [de] during the Second World War, at which time it was not clean and well kept, implying that it had not been in the hands of a collector.

Hoving reportedly stayed up drinking coffee with Topić Mimara until the British Museum's option lapsed at midnight, and then purchased the cross immediately for £200,000.