Details

LOT 0355

Large Medieval Gilt Bronze Champleve Plaque Depicting Christ in Majesty

LIMOGES, 13TH CENTURY A.D.

6 in. (124 grams, 15.2 cm).

Decorated in blue, green and red champlevé enamel, displaying the engraved figure of a standing Christ, his hands gesturing outwards towards the viewer; traces of original gilding; originally the central panel of a processional cross.

Provenance

Private collection, Europe.
Acquired on the French art market.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13092-248393.

Literature

See a complete reliquary with attached a similar plaque in the Collection of Frits Philips (1905-2005), in Sotheby's, Eindhoven, 4th-5th December 2006, lot 421, from the Treasury of the Basilica of Saint Servatius, Maastricht, deconsecrated and deaccessioned in 2020.

Footnotes

From the 12th to 14th century, there was a large industry producing metal objects decorated in enamel using the champlevé technique, of which most of the survivals and probably most of the original production, are religious objects such as reliquaries, crosses and statues of saints. The centre of this production was Limoges, France.