The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 18, 2025

Pair of Plaques (Appliqué)

1300s

Spain , 14th century

(Hispano-Moresque)
translucent enamel on gold
Overall: 2 x 3 cm (13/16 x 1 3/16 in.)
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1946.425
Location: 110B Late Gothic

Did You Know?

Enamel can be made opaque or translucent; when translucent, it resembles stained glass, allowing light to pass through.

Description

This oblong plaque is decorated with pseudo-Kufic (fake Arabic) designs indicating that it was produced in Spain under Muslim influence. It may have served as an applied ornament to some article of personal adornment such as a belt. It is possible that the design was inspired by Arabic coinage.
  • -1946
    Belle da Costa Greene (1879-1950), New York, NY, sold to Brummer Galleries
    1946
    (Brummer Gallery, Inc., New York, NY, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)
    1946-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • The Brummer Gallery Records. Cloisters (Museum), n.d. X1491 libmma.contentdm.oclc.org
    University of Pittsburgh. History of Enamels, VII-XX Century. Catalogue of an Exhibition, March 13-April 8, 1950. 1950. cat. no. 23
    Cooper Union Museum for the Arts of Decoration, and Everett Parker Lesley. Enamel, An Historic Survey to the Present Day. 1954. Cat no. 55
    New York University. Spanish Medieval Art. Loan Exhibition in Honor of Dr. Walter W.S. Cook. 1954. cat no. 11
    Clarke, Bert. Enamels: [Exhibition] Museum of Contemporary Crafts of the American Craftsmen's Council, New York City, September 18 Through November 29, 1959. [New York]: [The Museum], 1959. cat no. 10
  • Enamels, Museum of Contemporary Crafts of American Craftsman's Council, New York, NY (September 18-November 29, 1959).
    Spanish Romanesque Art in Honor of Walter W.S. Cook, The Cloisters, New York, NY (December 15, 1954 - January 30, 1955).
    Enamel, An Historic Survey to the Present Day, Cooper Union Museum, New York, NY ( April 15 - June 11, 1954).
    Exhibition of Enamels, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Fine Arts, PA (March 13-April 8, 1950).
    Exhibition of Enamels. University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA (organizer) (February 27-April 1, 1950).
    Exhibition of Medieval Art from the 12th to 15th Centuries, The Taft Museum, Cincinnati, OH (December 1948-January 1949).
  • {{cite web|title=Pair of Plaques (Appliqué)|url=false|author=|year=1300s|access-date=18 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1946.425