Medieval - Reliquary statuette - enamelled bronze - Limoges 13th century

Statuette of a saint - Reliquary doll. Enameling statuette, we can fully appreciate the finesse of the colors as well as the expression on the face. Cast in bronze, the bust likely represents a saint. Enameled in blue, white and red, it highlights the details of the body and clothes. The man stands upright, arms crossed on the chest, and one can clearly distinguish his upper hand. He wears a blue and red cloak. His face is finely crafted; his nose is straight, his two eyes in black stone/glass are fine and well preserved. His hair, barely sketched, lies flat against the skull. Two rivet holes indicate that it was mounted on a stand – probably a chasse. This statuette was made in Limoges, France, a city renowned for producing religious art objects distributed throughout Europe. It dates approximately to 1250-1275. Statuettes of this type have been found in several places in France, but they are rare. In the Middle Ages, churches were dedicated to a saint, and the small remains of these saints – the relics – carried great importance in the Catholic Church. In some places, one could find magnificent reliquaries or crucifixes adorned with gilding and enamels, but they have been very rarely preserved. Dimensions: height 6.1 cm - width 2.6 cm Provenance: France, Etude A.G.T. Previously: Private Parisian collection acquired in 2018 The seller can prove that the lot was legally obtained, provenance declaration seen by Catawiki. Important information: The seller guarantees that they are authorized to sell/export this lot. The seller will ensure that the necessary authorizations, such as an export license, are arranged. (Passport for a cultural object) The seller will inform the buyer of their status if it takes more than a few days All seller's objects are sent with insurance equal to the purchase price and are accompanied by an illustrated descriptive document mentioning provenance.

Estimate:£1,171

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