Quatrilobed Plaque
Unknown Artist
c. 1280–1300
Medium
Gold, translucent enamel
Dimensions
4.8 × 4.8 cm
Classification
Metalwork
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
The Mary Spedding Milliken Memorial Collection, Gift of William Mathewson Milliken
Accession Number
1932.537
About this artwork
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.