Medallion

Unknown

13th century (before 1227) · Copper, champlevé enamel · Medieval Art

These medallions probably come from a large traveling chest that belonged to Cardinal Guala Bicchieri. A collector and bibliophile, he purchased several such coffrets in Limoges and took them to his residence near Turin. Later the medallions were used as decorative elements on the choirstalls of the Church of Saint Sebastian in Biella, a dependency of one of the cardinal’s foundations. At an unknown date, the originals were replaced by copies.

Artist

Unknown

Date

13th century (before 1227)

Medium

Copper, champlevé enamel

Culture

French

Department

Medieval Art

Credit line

Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917