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Description: | A complete cast copper alloy enamelled mount from a casket or crucifix, of Medieval date (12th to 13th Centuries AD).The mount consists of a three-quarter length figure, with a solid head. The head is turned slightly to the right, and two blue glass eyes remain. The figure has seven recessed panels, for enamel to be inlaid, arranged lengthwise down the figure, indicating costume. The enamel is no longer present, lost through abrasion. Two attachment holes are present, located centrally on the figure, both are empty, with an internal diameter of 4.02mm. The back of the mount is concave and undecorated.The mount is mostly a dark brown colour, with patches of a dark green surface patina present. The mount has suffered from a minor degree of abrasion, caused by movement whilst within the ploughsoil, and has resulted in a loss of both surface detailing and enamel decoration. It measures 72.96mm in length, 20.97mm wide and 8.67mm thick. The metal is 1.09 mm thick and it weighs 15.5g.This style of enamelled mount, probably for a casket or a cross, was typically produced in the Limoges area in central France during the late 12th and 13th centuries. The technique, known as 'champlevé' enamelling, involved grinding out a metal base to recieve glass powder that was then fired. A variety of different items were produced from the workshops at Limoges, both commerical and ecclesiastical including altar crosses, relic caskets, candlesticks and marriage coffers (Mills, 1999, 106).A similar enameled figure was found in Salisbury (#2, fig 8) and paralleled by another in Winchester (Cherry, 2001, 42). Cherry notes that these enamelled figures with two holes for attachment to a reliquary, box or cross are not uncommon finds and are likely to represent saints or apostles. Several similar examples have been recorded on the PAS database and include:NMS-021F11 from Norfolk; DUR-11FEB4 from North Yorkshire; LIN-9833A0 from Nottinghamshire; IOW-B137B5 from the Isle of Wight; SUSS-52D708 from West Sussex; BH-A05BD8 from Bedfordshire; HAMP-774550 from Hampshire; NMGW-D86575 from Bridgend, Wales; LEIC-A029A1 from Northamptonshire; SWYOR-5E4FD4 from South Yorkshire and four examples from Lincolnshire: LIN-5555C4, LIN-983876, LIN-3943D1 & NCL-AA5735.References:Cherry, J. 2001. Enamels in Saunders, P. (ed) 2001. pp39-42Mills, N. 1999. Medieval Artefacts. Greenlight Publishing. Witham.Saunders, P.(ed) 2001. Salisbury Museum Medieval Catalogue Part 3. Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum, Salisbury.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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