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Just to the north side of the high altar in the parish church of St Lorenz in Nuremberg stands the remarkable sacrament house by Adam Kraft. Commissioned in 1493 by Hans IV Imhoff, a wealthy patrician, this tabernacle is far more elaborate than was needed for housing the wafer and wine for Holy Communion, or Eucharist. Its spire rises to a height of 18,7 m. This sacrament house is both functional and ambitious. Its towering architectural form contains sculptures of the Last Supper and Christ's Passion, both appropriate themes for this structure. Imhoff's coat of arms is displayed prominently for all worshippers to see, but closer scrutiny also reveals the presence of Kraft in the centre, and two assistants. These three life-size statues seem to bear the weight of the whole structure on their shoulders.
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