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Quatrilobed Plaque
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
This rare four-lobed plaque is a superb example of émail de plique , a virtuoso enameling method popular in Paris during the late 1200s with the court of Philip the Fair (reigned 1285–1314). Plaques like this were prepared in advance to be attached to larger works including crosses, chalices, reliquaries, or even sewn into precious fabrics for decoration. Given the very distinctive shape of this plaque it is certain to have been created for a specific commission.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineQuatrilobed Plaque, c. 1280–1300. France, Paris, Ile-de-France, Gothic period, early 14th century. Gold, translucent enamel; overall: 4.8 x 4.8 cm (1 7/8 x 1 7/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, The Mary Spedding Milliken Memorial Collection, Gift of William Mathewson Milliken, 1932.537
