Equestrian Plaque in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, April 2010

Title: Equestrian Plaque

Date: ca. 1220

Geography: Made in Limoges, France

Culture: French

Medium: Copper (plaque): engraved, stippled, and gilt; (appliqué): repoussé, engraved, chased, scraped, stippled, and gilt; champlevé enamel: dark, medium, and light blue; dark translucent and light green, yellow, red and white; blue-black glass beads

Dimensions: Overall: 9 3/4 x 5 1/8 x 1 1/8 in. (24.8 x 13 x 2.9 cm)

Classification: Enamels-Champlevé

Credit Line: Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917

Accession Number: 17.190.854


Description:

This sure-seated rider, possessing all the poise of a great knight, was found before 1890 at Saint-Germain, near Gourdon in southwestern France. His identity and the original function of the plaque are unknown. His bearing has much in common with the kings on horseback from the sacred story depicted in stained glass from the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés (24.167a–k) exhibited nearby.

Text from: www.metmuseum.org/Works_of_Art/collection_database/mediev...