The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of June 9, 2026

Two square, gilded copper and champlevé enamel plaques depict four apostles from the waist up against a gold background. On the left, Simon and Thaddaeus face each other with dark blue halos. On the right, Thomas and Matthew have turquoise halos. The figures wear green, white, and blue robes and hold patterned books or scrolls. Latin inscriptions identify each figure. Small mounting holes are visible in the corners of each plaque.

Plaque Pair: Simon and Thaddaeus and Thomas and Matthew

c. 1160

Mosan, Valley of the Meuse, Romanesque period, 12th century

gilded copper, champlevé enamel
Overall: 6.1 x 6.3 cm (2 3/8 x 2 1/2 in.)
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1952.462
Location: 106C Medieval Treasury

Description

It is likely this pair of enamel plaques depicting the apostles Simon with Thaddeus and Thomas with Matthew once formed part of the decoration of a portable altar, a reliquary triptych, or some other kind of liturgical object.
  • Albin Chalandon, Lyons; (Rosenberg & Stiebel, Inc., New York).
  • George, Philippe. L'Oeuvre de la Meuse: Orfèvrerie mosane XIIe et XIIIe siècle. [Namur]: Institut du Patrimoine Wallonie: Trésor de Liège : Archéoforum, 2014. Reproduced & mentioned: pp. 90-93, pl. 11
    George, Philippe. Art et Patrimoine en Wallonie des Origines à 1789: Essai de Synthèse à la Lumière des Collections Américaines et Européennes. Namur: Institut du Patrimoine Wallon, 2017. Reproduce: p. 148, figs. 204 & 205
  • {{cite web|title=Plaque Pair: Simon and Thaddaeus and Thomas and Matthew|url=false|author=|year=c. 1160|access-date=09 June 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1952.462