Large gilded copper cross with champleve enamel. Limoges. France. Romanesque. Circa 1170 - 1190.

Large gilded copper cross with champlevé enamel. Limoges. France. Romanesque. Circa 1170 - 1190. Large central plaque of a gilded copper cross, ornamented with champlevé enamel in tones of lapis lazuli blue, turquoise, navy blue, green, red, yellow and white. The decorative elements are concentric circles, two rosettes and a four-petalled flower. In the centre, on the reverse, is an engraved and gilded crucifix, Christ having a halo which combines gilding with three red enamel sections. On the upper part of the cross is the Christogram IHS. The large size of this cross is remarkably unusual. The cross can be compared to the cross in the former "Keir Collection", which appears published in: "Medieval enamels: masterpieces from the Keir Collection" by Marie-Madeleine Gauthier and G. François. London. British Museum Publications, 1981, nº 2. Another similar example, but with the figure of Christ affixed to the cross, is in the collection at the San Francisco Legion of Honour Museum. A third example, also with an affixed figure of Christ, but of the same structure, can be found in the Museo del Retablo (Altarpiece Museum) in Burgos, its provenance being the Terrazas de la Sierra Church (Burgos). 35,5 x 19 cm. Provenance: Bought in Sotheby's on 16/6/1983, lot nº 2.