A RARE CENTRAL MEDAILLON DECORATION OF AN EARLY MEDIEVAL CROSS

Estimated Value:

10.000 € - 15.000 €

Schätzpreis:

28.000 €

Description:

1st half 7th century
D. 7 cm
Gold, rock crystal, garnets, diameter 7 cm, height up to 1.1 cm, weight 40.5 g.
The round golden ornamental medaillon with a high profile frame on the reverse is set in the centre with an oval cut rock crystal measuring 1.85 x 1.51 cm, which in turn is enclosed by golden braided ribbon and notched wires. From the setting of the central gemstone emanate four cross arms, each consisting of four rectangular cloisonné, set with dark red garnets (three of them are missing), ending in large square cell settings also with dark red garnet inlays. Four round cloisonnés, each with two orange-red and purple garnets, are set between the arms of the cross. Twisted and notched gold wires frame the disc, on which spiral tendrils of notched gold wires lie flat in two zones. The round gold plate is cut out in the area of the central gemstone. The large stone settings at the ends of the arms of the cross and the round cell settings could create an extraordinary effect for the viewer when illuminated appropriately. On the back, the arms of the cross stand out in the golden base plate.
Slight age damage, minute additions, some stones lost.
From an important private collection, according to the previous owner in the possession of his family since about 1920. Auctioned Nagel Auktionen, Stuttgart, sale 46T, 17.5.2006, lot 443 and now from the estate of the buyer.
Due to its characteristic decorative forms - the combination of flat gold wire overlays and cloisonné - the precious piece is recognisable as high-quality goldsmith's work from the first half of the 7th century. The proximity to high-quality disc brooches of this period is obvious. These are attributed to goldsmiths in the Franconian Empire who were under the influence of the court workshops. Their workshops are to be sought in the area of the Sal Franconian heartlands, in present-day Belgium, in North-Eastern France or in the Netherlands.
The work, which is designed for the greatest possible luminosity and makes use of the translucent effect of the rock crystal and the eight large coloured stone inlays, can be functionally located in the early medieval liturgy. The main motif in the form of a Christian cross leaves no doubt about this. The high value of rock crystal, which in antiquity and in the Middle Ages was considered a precious material that could only be worked by specialists with great effort, fits in with this. As a synonym of light and purity, rock crystals were among the most sought-after gemstones for decorating relics and other sacred objects.
The precious jewel was originally part of an early medieval gem cross (crux gemmata). The medallion in the centre of the cross was embedded in the cross via the high frame (0.68-0.8 cm) applied to the back up to the surrounding twisted gold wire. The core of the cross itself was probably made of wood, which in turn was set with precious metal and decorated with precious stones.
Literature: Hayo Vierck, Werke des Eligius. In: Georg Kossack / Günter Ulbert (eds.), Studien zur vor- und frühgeschichtlichen Archäologie. Festschrift für Joachim Werner zum 65. Geburtstag (Munich 1974) pp. 309-380 esp. 359-367; Elke Hartoch, Merowingische Fibel mit cloisonnierter Goldschmiedearbeit aus Rosmeer (Belgien). In: Von den Göttern zu Gott. Frühes Christentum im Rheinland. Accompanying book to the exhibition in the Rheinisches Landesmuseum Bonn (Cologne 2006) p. 124 f.; Theo Jülich, Gemmenkreuze. The colourfulness of their gemmules up to the 12th century. Aachener Kunstblätter vol. 54-55 (Cologne 1988) pp. 99-258.
Prof. Dr. Marcus Trier, Cologne

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