Medieval Art & Manuscripts
Plaque with Seated Prophet from a Reliquary Shrine: Achapias (Obadiah)
MetalworkReligious ArtIvory & Enamel
Details
- Author / creator
- Germany, Lower Saxony, Hildesheim, Romanesque period, 12th century
- Object type
- Decorative arts
- Date or period
- c. 1170–80
- Dimensions summary
- Overall: 8.9 × 5.9 × 0.3 cm
- Place of origin
- Germany
- Acquisition method
- Purchase
- Credit line
- Purchased with the Hartley Bequest Fund, 1950
- Text
- Unidentified text
- Script
- Gothic textualis
- Language
- Latin
- Image rights
- Public domain (CC0)
About this object
Once used as decorations for a reliquary shrine, each enamel plaque represents a biblical prophet: Isaiah, Obadiah, Elisha, and Hosea. Fine gold dots punctuate dark blue backgrounds. Typical of Hildesheim enamels, this detailing creates the illusion that the prophets sit against star-studded twilight skies.
Materials and technique
Gilded copper, champlevé enamel
