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Perseus and Andromeda: polychrome enamel plaque, Limoges, 16th-17th century

Height x width: 17 x 21 cm. Weight: 137 g approx.
oval shaped decorated with polychrome enamels depicting the Greek mythological theme of Perseus and Andromeda.

Andromeda, shown bottom right, daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia, king and queen of Ethiopia. Cassiopeia, boasting of her beauty, provoked the wrath of Poseidon, who sent a sea monster to ravage their lands. To appease him, Andromeda was chained to a rock as a sacrifice. However, Perseus saw Andromeda, fell in love with her and saved her by killing the monster.

Within a gilt bronze frame embossed and chiselled with floral motifs, fruits and fantastic animals recalls the 16th-17th century, the heyday of Limoges enamelling.
Literature:
The Limoges enamel tradition is one of the most celebrated expressions of European decorative art, with a production of excellence that spanned the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

During this phase, cloisonné and champlevé were developed, techniques that involved engraving or dividing metal surfaces into enamel-filled cells. 
Limoges enamels had both religious and profane purposes. In the Middle Ages, these were mostly liturgical objects, while in the Renaissance, mythological and allegorical themes as well as portraits commissioned by noble families found widespread use in addition to sacred representations.
23/01/2025 14:06:23
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€ 1.000,00 / 1.500,00
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700,00 €
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Curiosities from European and Oriental art
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