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892 - Exceptional 12th-century medieval processional cross from Si…
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Estimate €5,000 - €122,000
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Description
Exceptional 12th-century medieval processional cross from Silos, in repoussé copper, with base In repoussé copper. 48 × 31 × 8 cm. This 12th-century Silos cross is a Romanesque metalwork piece of great symbolic and devotional significance, made of copper worked using the repoussé technique—a method of hammering the metal from the reverse to create reliefs on the surface. Its dimensions, 48 × 31 × 8 cm, lend it a vertical and solemn presence, likely intended for monastic or processional worship. The figure of Christ on the cross stands out in the centre, modelled in relief and attached to the main axis of the cross. The anatomy is stylised and hieratic, typical of the Romanesque style: the body appears frontal, rigid and spiritualised rather than naturalistic. The loincloth falls in schematic folds, and the face retains a serene expression, more triumphant than sorrowful, in keeping with medieval iconography prior to the Gothic drama. The lower staff stands on a later turned wooden base, which appears to have been added for modern display purposes. Originally, the piece was probably mounted on a processional stand or integrated into a larger liturgical ensemble. Formally, this work is associated with the output of the medieval workshop at the Monastery of Santo Domingo de Silos, one of the most important centres of Romanesque enamelling and metalwork in Spain. The so-called ‘Silos group’ developed an aesthetic during the 12th and 13th centuries that was influenced by both the French workshops of Limoges and Hispano-Muslim traditions. The piece conveys a blend of monastic austerity and artisanal refinement: the repoussé copper, the rigid symmetry, and the spiritualisation of the figure of Christ are characteristic features of Castilian Romanesque art associated with the Silos area. Provenance: an important private Catalan collection.
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About the sale GRAND JULY AUCTION – FINE ART, OLD MASTERS AND JEWELLERY
Auction location
Auction time 07/15/2026 at 3:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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