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HOME :
Decorative Arts :
Masterpieces : Enamel Inlaid Gilt Bronze Bowl
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Enamel Inlaid Gilt Bronze Bowl - FZ.304
Origin: Europe (Limouges, Île-de-France)
Circa: 1200
AD
to 1400
AD
Dimensions:
1.5" (3.8cm) high
x 8.75" (22.2cm) wide
Collection: Decorative
Medium: Bronze, Gold, Enamel
Location: Great Britain
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| Description |
The overall composition is highly
geometric: encasing the central circle
are four larger intersecting half-
circles. Various figures and animals
fill the spaces, the background of
which are all decorated with
curvilinear vine motifs. In the central
circular field, there is a haloed
medieval saint conversing to a hooded
figure. The central circle is outlined
by a band of intersecting white and red
triangles. In the surrounding pointed
arches with azure field, there are four
coat of arms that bear lion, crescents
and an impaled heraldry. The spaces
created by the four outermost circles
are coloured in ultramarine. There are
knights that appear to be battling
mythological creatures.
In the four corners created by the four
large circles, there are four Norman-
style castle gates with embattled
parapets and their crenellated form is
echoed by the tooth-like decorations
that adorn the rim of the bowl. The
forms have been chased into the bronze
bowl and the receding fields are inlaid
with enamel.
From the comparative examples, it is
likely that the polychromy of the
object has been achieved by enamelling
techniques that were at its peak at
Limoges, Île-de-France in the
thirteenth century. The bronze bowl
would have first been chased, pressing
all the spaces apart from the outlines
to realise the overall compositional
format. Then, the enamel would have
been applied on all recessed surfaces.
Remaining areas of bronze were then
gilt in gold. The inside of the bowl
is exquisitely decorated from the rim
to the centre, with opaque ultramarine,
azure, red and white champlevé enamel
inlays in the repousséd outlines.
The relative intact enamel decorations
and the lack of wear and tear may
suggest that this object was not
regularly used, however, existed more
as a decorative piece. Given the
religious nature of the iconography and
the stylistic similarity to the
Byzantine mosaic traditions in the
Orthodox church, it is highly probable
that this bronze bowl was used in
liturgical context. Medieval art
historians speculate that such
decorative bowls were often used for
baptism or washing of the hands in the
Liturgy. (McRoberts, 1963, p. 303)
Given the relatively small size of this
bowl (22.2 diameter), they probably
served the latter purpose. (SY)
- (FZ.304)
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