French, Limoges, 13th century

inscribed on the cross: IHS / XPS

Josef Salzer;
his sale, C.J. Wawra and Albert Werner, Vienna, 17 October 1927, lot 71

Overall the condition of the book cover is good, with minor dirt and some wear to the surface consistent with age. The gilding is largely lost. There are some losses to the enameling, particularly to the corners of the plaquette, around the angel in the bottom right hand corner, to the cross around the lower legs and to the centre of the cross around Christ's head and chest. There is rubbing to the copper at the high points, notably to all of the faces. The copper is very slightly warped, in particular to the bottom left hand corner. There is a scratch to the top left corner on the reverse in the shape of an X, there are a few further minor scratches to the reverse. There are some minor nicks and scratches to the edges of the relief. The modern metal stand is in good condition.
"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 elaborate plaque combines the two compositional schemes seen in the corpus of Limoges enamelled copper book covers, by showing the Crucifixion framed in a mandorla. Book covers which are composed in this way are rare. One similar example was formerly in the collection of Jean-Joseph Marquet de Vasselot and sold at Christie's Paris, 16 November 2011, lot 5.

The subject matter of Limoges book covers is usually limited to two themes: the Crucifixion and Christ in Majesty. Surviving bindings suggest that the Crucifixion is most often featured on the front cover and Christ in Majesty on the reverse. The themes were represented according to standardised compositions. Plaques with the Crucifixion feature the cross extending over the entire rectangle, creating fields in the corners which are populated by Mary, St John and two angels, usually on colourful mounds (see for example Bertrand, op.cit.). The plaques with Christ in Majesty normally depict the throned figure of Christ in a central mandorla with the winged symbols of the Evangelists in the four corners (see Taburet-Delahaye and Drake Boehm, op.cit.). Effectively, both schemes are repeated in full here. Four angels, with their wings in attitudes identical to those often given to the wings of the Evangelists, surround a mandorla. Inside this almond shape, the crucifixion has four registers for Mary, St. John and, personifications of the sun and the moon. These figures are further unusual, but are also included on an earlier plaque with the Crucifixion in the Musée de Nevers illustrated by Gauthier (op.cit.).

RELATED LITERATURE
M.-M. S. Gauthier, Emaux limousins champlevés des XIIe, XIIIe et XIVe siècles, Paris, 1950, pl. 16, 35; E. Taburet-Delahaye and B. Drake Boehm (eds.), L'Oeuvre de Limoges. Emaux limousins du Moyen Age, exh. cat. Musée du Louvre/ Metropolitan Museum of Art, Paris, 1995, pp.170-171 and 182-183, nos. 42, 43 and 48; M.-M. Gauthier, E. Antoine and D. Gabori-Chopin (eds.), L'apogée - Corpus des Emaux Méridionaux, tome II, Paris, 2011, pp. 207-239, particularly p. 226-7, V C, no 17.