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Art et Patrimoine - Laurence Lenne

Reliquary in the form of a sarcophagus with a movable roof
Limoges, mid-13th century
Gilt copper plates, champlevé enamels on white enamel

Literature: Inventaire général des monuments et des richesses artistiques de la France. Emaux limousins du Moyen Age. Correze/ Creuse /Haute-Vienne, sous la direction de Paul-Edouard Robinne, Editions de l'Inventaire Images du Patrimoine, 1995; Emaux de Limoges XIIè - XIXè siècle, sous le direction de Jacques Toussaint, Musée des Arts anciens du namurois, 1996; Valérie & Thomas Becket. De l'influence des princes Plantagenêt dans l'Oeuvre de Limoges, Musée municipal de l'Evêché - Musée de l'Email, Limoges, 1999

Reliquary, without a wooden core, adopting the shape of a sarcophagus with a movable roof. It is made of gilt copper plates and decorated with champlevé enamels depicting sixteen half-length angels emerging from clouds against a white enamel background.
The decoration consists of two superimposed registers of three engraved gilt angels set within round medallions. The medallions stand out against a blue enamel ground adorned with gilded Gothic foliage and interlace patterns.
This reliquary belongs to a series of standardized reliquaries known from the Limousin region, all dating from the 13th century. Its dimensions make it one of the largest examples of this 'sarcophagus with movable roof' type.
It is closely related to the exceptional large reliquary of Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche, classified as part of the Treasure of the French Historic Monuments.