The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Equestrian Plaque

Date:: ca. 1220
Geography:: Made in Limoges, France
Culture:: French
Medium:: Copper (plaque): engraved, stippled, and gilt; (appliqué): repoussé, engraved, chased, scraped, stippled, and gilt; champlevé enamel: dark, medium, and light blue; dark translucent and light green, yellow, red and white; blue-black glass beads
Dimensions:: Overall: 9 3/4 x 5 1/8 x 1 1/8 in. (24.8 x 13 x 2.9 cm)
Classification:: Enamels
Credit Line:: Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number:: 17.190.854

This artwork is currently on display in Gallery 304

Description

This sure-seated rider, possessing all the poise of a great knight, was found before 1890 at Saint-Germain, near Gourdon in southwestern France. His identity and the original function of the plaque are unknown. His bearing has much in common with the kings on horseback from the sacred story depicted in stained glass from the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés (24.167a–k) exhibited nearby.
Provenance

Louis Greil, Cahors (before 1890; d. 1901); comte Chandon de Briailles, Épernay; J. Pierpont Morgan, London and New York
See also
What
Metal (59,364)

Engraving (17,386)

Glass (16,037)

Needlework (10,342)

Gilt (9,043)

Copper (6,255)

Enamels (3,249)

Plaques (2,403)

Stippling (459)

Champlevé (329)

Appliqué (91)

Repoussé (55)
Where
Europe (148,587)

France (52,276)

Limousin (306)

Limoges (290)
When
A.D. 1000-1400 (7,084)
In the Museum
Medieval Art (6,712)
Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History
France, 1000–1400 A.D.
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