The Birth of Christ - The Creation of Eve

This oven plate cast from iron is square-shaped. It features two circular medallions with beaded edges and a leaf frieze in the lower third of the plate, which was typical of the Renaissance. The left-hand medallion shows the birth of Christ: an angel and Mary kneel before the newborn Christ. Joseph holds a candle next to them. In the background we see a building with square pillars, through which shepherds are walking. Some animals are looking up from below. Around the medallion other animals, the symbols of the evangelists, are spread. The medallion on the right shows the creation of Eve. God, depicted with a long beard and robe, removes a rib from the reclining Adam, in order to create Eve with it. The scene takes place in paradise with animals and plants in the background. Arranged around the medallion are the moon and sun, as well as clouds given human features, blowing the wind. The motif was designed by Philipp Soldan zum Frankenberg, one of the few known masters of 16th century form cutting. According to the engraving, the form cutter and caster Conradt Luckeln from Korbach cast this stove plate in 1577. Luckeln, who copied Soldan’s motif in reverse, had been one of his students.