Fittings Essen Minster

1 fittings

1.1 cathedral treasury
1.2 column of ida
1.3 altfrid s grave monument
1.4 further artworks
1.5 organ
1.6 bells

fittings

the important artwork in church, golden madonna of essen

as result of baroquification of eighteenth century, re-gothificisation of nineteenth century , war damage of twentieth century, there few pieces of earlier fittings of minster, remains of great significance survive. interior comparatively simple, in architecture, subtle beauty overlooked many visitors because lustre of 2 important medieval artworks of cathedral outshines it.

cathedral treasury

the minster possesses cathedral treasury, open public. important treasure of church, golden madonna, has been found in northern side chapel since 1959. oldest sculptured statue of mary, patron saint of diocese, in world. 74 cm high figure of gilded poplar, dates period of abbess mathilde , depicts mary heavenly queen, holding power on earth on behalf of son. figure, carried in processions, placed in essen because of mathilde s relationship ottonian dynasty. figure, more thousand years old, comprehensively restored in 2004.

in centre of westwork monumental seven-arm candelabrum stands, abbess mathilde had made between 973 , 1011. candelabrum, 2.26 metres high span of 1.88 metres composed of 46 individual cast bronze pieces. candelabrum symbolises unity of trinity , earth 4 cardinal points , idea of christ light of world, lead believers home @ last judgement (book of revelation).

other remarkable items in cathedral treasury include so-called childhood crown of otto iii, 4 ottonian processional crosses, long-revered sword of saints cosmas , damian, cover of theophanu gospels, several gothic arm-reliquaries, largest surviving collection of burgundian fibulae in world , great carolingian gospels.

column of ida

the column of ida, behind cathedra of bishop

the oldest surviving fitting in minster column in choir, supports modern crucifix. until fifteenth century supported cross coated gilt copper sheet, donation plate , other remains in cathedral treasury made. latin inscription istam crucem (i)da abbatissa fieri iussit (abbess ida ordered cross made) allows creator identified essen abbess ida, died in 971, though sister of abbess theophanu, ida, abbess of st. maria im kapitol in cologne has been suggested. column ancient spolia, going fluted pedestal , attic basis of column. capital carved in antiquity, though exceptionally richly carved period. stylistically related capitals of west end , crypt, of ludgeridan crypt of werden abbey , of st lucius church in essen-werden.

altfrid s grave monument

in east crypt there limestone gothic church monument of bishop of hildesheim , founder of essen, altfrid, dates around 1300 , built under abbess beatrix von holte. dating based on striking similarity of tomb saints graves @ cologne, grave of st. irmgard in cologne cathedral.

further artworks

entombment of christ

the sandstone sculptural group, called entombment of christ (grablegung christi) in souther side chapel late gothic period. unknown cologne master created in first quartre of sixteenth century known notname master of carben monument. sculpture sixteenth century sculpture of holy helper, saint roch on north wall of minster, created shortly after 1500.

the baroque period represented in essen minster 2 epitaphs. older, abbess elisabeth von bergh-s’heerenberg died in 1614, contains significant renaissance elements. plaque made of black marble in antwerp found on north wall, east of side bay , shows abbess in official outfit, surrounded coats of arms of ancestors. second epitaph of abbess anna salome von salm-reifferscheidt, attributed johann mauritz gröninger , found on north wall of organ loft.

because of war damage, minster has no medieval windows. among modern artworks essen cathedral chapter commissioned during rebuild, new windows church , modern sacral art, in harmony older elements of building. window of st michael , windows of gallery heinrich campendonk, choir windows ludwig gies, of nave wilhelm buschulte , windows of crypt alfred manessier. altar frieze work of sculptor elmar hillebrand , student ronald hughes. bronze doors of atrium , church frieze depicting stations of cross in nave work of austrian artist toni schneider-manzell.

organ

the minster has new organ since 2004. organ built renowned organ workshop, rieger of schwarzach, founded organ builder franz rieger. instrument consists of 2 organ works, can operated single console. organ system has 69 registers altogether (5,102 pipes, 95 organ stops).

the main instrument located in choir loft. has 57 registers in 3 manual divisions , pedal division. there 4 manuals. on fourth manual possible play auxiliary organ.

the auxiliary organ located in west part of cathedral. has ten manual divisions , 2 pedal divisions. manual divisions split 3 works: main works have significant role in producing sound in rear region of cathedral. high pressure , bombard registers solo parts particular musical effects. 3 registers can played fourth manual of main console , each os individually coupled other manuals of high organ.

bells

there bells in belfry of westwork , in flèche on crossing. ringing of minster expanded tonally ringing of attached church of st. johann baptist, bells, cast in 1787, not tonally matched older bells of minster, when ring there slight musical impurity.

there 3 large bells in westwork. oldest bell in place @ end of thirteenth century. bears inscription christum de ligno clamantem dum sono signo (when sound, signal christ calls cross). construction gothic 3 chime bell. marybell largest of bells. bears longer inscription saying cast in 1546. bell cast in essen itself, in modern burgplatz. third bell in westwork lacks inscription, shape marks fourteenth century.

the flèche holds 3 more bells, 2 of cast in 1955 bell founders petit & gebr. edelbrock of gescher, thereby brought foundry bell making tradition, since foundry had cast bells of st. johann baptist in 1787. these 2 bells inscribed ave maria trösterin 1955 (hail mary, counselor, 1955) , ave maria königin 1955 (hail mary, queen, 1955). third bell in flèche bears inscription wei got wel deinen dei bidde vor de kresten seelen 1522 (he serves god prays christian souls, y(ear) of o(ur lord) 1522).