CROSS

Medieval copper-alloy gilded and enamelled Limoges-style panel from the left-hand arm of an altar or processional crucifix. The mount is shaped like a T on its side and has four attachment holes - two at the corners of the stem of the T and two in the bar, slightly more widely spaced. The panel is decorated with a winged figure, probably the eagle of St John or lion of St Mark, on a blue enamel background. Around it is a narrow concentric border of gilding. The border expands to encompass the two attachment holes on the right. The two holes on the left are also surrounded by gilding. Around the gilded border is a second concentric band, this one of green enamel. The winged figure is gilded, has its head turned to face right and is nimbed. Both wings are raised with the tip of the left one reaching towards the top left corner of the mount and the right wing extending back towards the head, clipping the edge of the halo and joining to the gilded border at the upper corner on the underside of the bar of the T. The details of the eagle and the wings are picked out with incised lines. There is a piece of the lower left corner missing and the whole mount is slightly bent. The reverse is undecorated.

Originally one of a set of four decorative mounts, each one with a winged creature emblematic of the four Evangelists as follows: St Mark - lion; St Matthew - angel; St Luke - bull; St John - eagle. One mount would be attached to each of the arms of the cross.

Dimensions: 58.19 mmx x 33.53 mm x 1.98 mm Weight: 16.98 g. Date: Late 12th/ 13th century.

Compare SUSS-54B2C4, WILT-45FC93.