German, Cologne, around 1170

Ernst Kofler and Marthe Truniger, Lucerne, before 1964 to 1971;
Edmund de Unger, London;
his sale, Sotheby's New York, The Keir Collection of Medieval Works of Art, 20 November 1997, lot 10

Zurich, Kunsthaus, E and M Kofler-Truniger Collection, 1964, no. 840;
Kansas City, Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, Medieval enamels and sculptures from the Keir Collection, 1983, no. 10

Sammlung E. und M. Kofler-Truniger, Luzern, exhib. cat. Kunsthaus Zürich, Zurich, 1964, p. 93, no. 840;
H. Schnitzler, P. Bloch and C. Ratton, Email, Goldschmiede- und Metallarbeiten. Europäisches Mittelalter, Sammlung E. und M. Kofler-Truniger, Luzern, Lucerne/ Stuttgart, 1965, vol. II, E20, pl. 34;
M. Stokstad, Medieval enamels and sculptures from the Keir Collection, exhib. cat. Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, 1983, no. 10
H. Schwarzenski and N. Netzer, Medieval objects in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Enamels and Glass, Boston, 1986, no. 11

The plaque is warped due to a dent in the centre. There are losses to the enamel, particularly along the top and in the centre. There are a few losses to the lower edge. There is wear and some minor dirt to the surface consistent with age including some wear to the gilding.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Schwarzenski and Netzer (op.cit.) in cataloguing the Boston example list the present lunette as part of a group of ten, which, together with six others in the Hessisches Landesmuseum and others in the Musée de Cluny and the Louvre, emanate from the same workshop. Further lunettes were once in the Ernest Brummer collection (sold Galerie Koller, Zurich, 16-19 October 1979, lot 200). These plaques masked joints of enamel frames on shrines and also formed lobes of quatrefoils on phylacteries. The shaded blue and green colouring is consistent with enamelling on a processional cross, the Shrine of St Maurinus and the retable from the St Pantaleon treasury all dating from circa 1170. The style of the leaves is comparable to those found on the lid of the arm reliquary of Charlemagne in the Louvre (inv. no. D712).