Michael Lake
Head of Department
Lot 18
Circle of Jean Limousin (French, 1505-1575): Two Limoges enamel calendar plates probably symbolising May and July from the twelve months of the year probably second half 16th century
18 December 2020, 14:00 GMT
London, New Bond StreetSold for £9,180 inc. premium
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Circle of Jean Limousin (French, 1505-1575): Two Limoges enamel calendar plates probably symbolising May and July from the twelve months of the year
probably second half 16th century
each painted in colours with gilt details, the central reserves depicting landscapes, one depicting a raised dais with a seated classical maiden playing a mandolin flanked by two female attendants, with five male figures around a circular table to the background, the other depicting a harvesting scene with three agricultural workers, two figures bathing in a river to the background, the foreground marked IVIN, both within faux sapphire and emerald cabochon and faux peal borders to the rims, the rear of each with a profile portrait of a Roman emperors within similar sparser faux 'jewelled' borders,
24cm and 24.5cm diameter approximately (2)
each painted in colours with gilt details, the central reserves depicting landscapes, one depicting a raised dais with a seated classical maiden playing a mandolin flanked by two female attendants, with five male figures around a circular table to the background, the other depicting a harvesting scene with three agricultural workers, two figures bathing in a river to the background, the foreground marked IVIN, both within faux sapphire and emerald cabochon and faux peal borders to the rims, the rear of each with a profile portrait of a Roman emperors within similar sparser faux 'jewelled' borders,
24cm and 24.5cm diameter approximately (2)
Footnotes
Provenance
Property of a private Italian Collector
Limoges in the south west region of France, has been world-famous for producing enamels for centuries. Originating in the 12th century, the industry of decorating metal objects, usually in bronze and brass (and mostly made for ecclesiastical purposes) in champleve coloured enamels, thrived until circa 1370 when a swift decline meant that these precious manufacturing skills were almost lost. However, in the late 15th century the production of enamel returned to the region but with a move to producing more secular objects. With this revival came new techniques including painting the decoration directly onto the enamel rather than gouging out designs then flooding them with enamel. Several notable French workshops emerged with their own distinctive styles who would, in some cases, also sign or punch mark their work. Usually depicting mythological or religious narratives, these wares, often plates, chargers or plaques, became highly prized objects.
Jean Limousin was a painter from the family of famous French 16th century enamellists and painters, the most noted being Leonard Limousin.
Literature
Suzanne. Higgot, with contributions from Isabell Biron, Susan La Neice, Juanita Navarro and Stefan Rohrs, The Wallace Collection Catalogue of Glass and Limoges Painted Enamels, The Trustees of the Wallace Collection, 2011.
We would like to thank Suzanne Higgot, curator of Glass, Limoges and painted enamels at The Wallace Collection, London for her kind and generous assistance with cataloguing this lot.
