Spanish, Barcelona, early 15th century

with enamelled plaques of a stork picking itself, starry skies and foliage and a reliquary with a rock crystal cover to the reverse; stamped +BA / RCK for Barcelona on the stem

Overall the condition of the cross is very good. There is wear and dirt to the surface consistent with age and handling. There are several losses to the enamels including to St. Mark, St. Michael, the foliage, reliquary and the left plaque with stars. The top of the top cross terminal was reattached. There is a loss to one of the leaves on the left side of the lower terminal and possibly to the tips of both side terminals. A small ornament to the right side of Christ is lost. There is a rivet visible on the stem under the central square. The rock crystal is scratched throughout.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This processional cross belongs to a group of silver crosses emanating from Barcelona workshops in the late fourteenth and early 15^th centuries. The hallmark on the lower part of the stem indicates that the present cross dates to the fifteenth century. Another similar cross is in the Musée de Cluny in Paris. The enamels on this and the Cluny cross have the typical colouring of work from Barcelona of the period, combining yellow-gold, mauve, blue and green. The present cross can also be compared to another in the Kofler Collection, Zurich. The central enamel of both crosses depicts the enthroned Christ, an orb upheld in his left hand whilst he raises his right hand in blessing. The terminals of the present cross are unusual. Rather than the stylized flat tripartite terminals of other processional crosses of the period, the silversmith has chosen to create undulating leaf forms which give the cross a particular delicacy and grace.

RELATED LITERATURE
H. Schnitzler, P. Bloch and C. Ratton, Sammlung E. und M. Kofler-Truniger, Luzern. Email, Goldschmiede und Metallarbeiten. Europäischen Mittelalter, Luzern/ Stuttgart, 1965, 2 vols., II, pp. 43-4, no. E130, pl. 72-3; E. Taburet-Delahaye, L'orfèvrerie gothique au Musée Cluny. XIIIe- début XVe siècle, Paris, 1989, pp. 200-5, no. 81; A. Ferández et al., Marcas de la plata española y virreinal, Madrid, 1992, p. 180