German, Rhineland, circa 1180-1200

with a label inscribed: THE KEIR COLLECTION SOTHEBY'S 1997 and numbered: 008 and another numbered: 1104 in ink to the reverse

Ernst Kofler and Marthe Truniger, Lucerne, before 1964 to 1971;
Edmund de Unger, London;
his sale, Sotheby's New York, The Keir Collection of Medieval Works of Art, 20 November 1997, lot 8

Zurich, Kunsthaus, E and M Kofler-Truniger Collection, 1964, no. 840;
Kansas City, Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, Medieval enamels and sculptures from the Keir Collection, 1983, no. 8

Sammlung E. und M. Kofler-Truniger, Luzern, exhib. cat. Kunsthaus Zürich, Zurich, 1964, p. 93, no. 840;
H. Schnitzler, P. Bloch and C. Ratton, Email, Goldschmiede- und Metallarbeiten. Europäisches Mittelalter, Sammlung E. und M. Kofler-Truniger, Luzern, Lucerne/ Stuttgart, 1965, vol. II, E16, pl. 34;
M. Stokstad, Medieval enamels and sculptures from the Keir Collection, exhib. cat. Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, 1983, no. 8

Overall the condition of the plaque is good. There is some minor wear and dirt to the surface consistent with age and handling with some rubbing to the gilding. There is some slight crazing to the enamel, a loss to the enamel in the top left corner and a restoaration to the top right corner. There are a few minor nicks and scratching including a nick in the centre along the top edge.
"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."

Two plaques of comparable design are in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston (Schwarzenski and Netzer, op.cit.) and once framed a Carolingian ivory also in the museum's collection. A similar plaque of curved form dating to circa 1170 is on the central arch on the Shrine of St Aetherius in the treasury of the church of St Ursula in Cologne.

RELATED LITERATURE
H. Schwarzenski and N. Netzer, Medieval objects in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Enamels and Glass, Boston, 1986, no. 12