MOUNT

A complete cast Medieval copper-alloy mount, inlaid with Limoges style enamel. Dating to c. AD 1150-1300.

Description: The mount is circular in plan and very slightly convex in cross-section. The upper surface is decorated with a champlevé enamel design consiting of cast cells. The primary field is in cobalt blue enamel, at the centre of which is a small cricular cell with yellow enamel bordering a field of green enamel with a spot of red enamel at the centre. Abutting the central cell, arranged evenly around it are four petal like cells. These cells are pointed at the outer edge and round at the ends abutting the central cell. Within these cells are fields of enamel consisting of a white border around a field of light blue with a red dot at the centre. Within each of the quarters of the cruciform designed created by the this is an enamel cell, circular on the outside and quatrelobed internal design using the same colours of the central cell.

A each point of the petal like cells are cast rivet holes, some which show some finishing. The Reverse is entirely undcoratted. Where not covered in enamel the copper-alloy is heavily mottled dark brown, light brown, light through to dark breen. The mount remains in good condition though the enamel is showing signs of weathering with two quarters suffering quite badly and missing some of the enamel.

Measurements: 35.9mm in diameter, 2.63mm thick and 13.49g in weight.

Discussion: This mount is in the Limoges style, and probably produced at the workshops at Limoges in France. While not possible to be certain what it was originally affixed to it was likely something religious like a book, reliquary or casket. A number of other circular limoges mounts have been recorded on the PAS database: SF-4334F2, SUR-280DCC, SWYOR-515DF1 and DUR-6A4CE7. These vary in design and number of rivet holes with none matching the design of the example recorded here.

The design of this mount is however paralleled on a number reliquary and châsse in museum collections and churches such as that of St Calminius currently in the Musée Dobrés (896.1.22) at Nantes in France, two in the Musée de Cluny, Paris (of Beckett Cl. 23296 and the Adoration of the magi Cl. 23822) and the Bethlehem Square tabarnacle from Prague now in the Metropolitan Musuem of Art, new York (here). There is also a medallion of a falcon rider in the Musée de Cluny with very similar cellwork (Cl. 14697).