Anglo-Norman Reliquary Cross. Champlevé and Gilded Copper.

Rare late 11th-century Anglo-Norman pectoral cross in champlevé copper, enameled, and gilded. This large reliquary cross with blue and garnet enamels features a peacock on each arm. The reverse of the cross presents eight eyelets used to secure the reliquary. The overall shape of the object and its design follow Anglo-Saxon or Germanic productions, such as the harness mounting preserved at the Met Museum (51.158) from Trier, dated to the 10th century. However, the iconography of this cross and the champlevé techniques indicate a later production. The depiction of birds, in particular, is very distinctive and evokes insular styles (as seen in the illuminations of the Canterbury manuscripts) but especially the numerous bird representations in the Bayeux Tapestry illustrating the conquest of England by William the Conqueror.

The Bayeux Tapestry is dated to the late 11th century and shows both insular and continental influences. Preserved within a local family for several generations, our cross is likely contemporary with William the Conqueror, and constitutes a rare example of Anglo-Norman art. The similarity with military objects, such as the plate at the Met Museum, is also noteworthy in this context.
References consulted:
· La Tapisserie de Bayeux: a documentary of the 11th century, Michel Parisse, Paris 1983,
· La Tapisserie de Bayeux, David M. Wilson, Paris-Antwerp 1985.
· The Invention of Norman Visual Culture: Art, Politics, and Dynastic Ambition, Lisa Reilly, 2020.
· The Normans: Power, Conquest and Culture in 11th Century Europe, Judith A. Green, 2022.