Costume Ornament with Profile Portrait
c. 1380/1400
Medium
repoussé silver, gilded, and translucent enamel, attached to a strip of velvet
Dimensions
overall (disk diameter): 4 cm (1 9/16 in.) overall (velvet strip): 5.1 x 41.6 cm (2 x 16 3/8 in.) overall (enamel): 1.3 x 1.3 cm (1/2 x 1/2 in.)
Classification
Decorative Art
Department
CSD
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Samuel H. Kress Collection
Accession Number
1961.9.194
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Costume Ornament with Profile Portrait*, crafted by a North Italian artist around 1380–1400, exemplifies the refined metalwork of late medieval Europe. Measuring just 4 cm in diameter, the repoussé silver disk—hammered from the reverse to create a raised profile bust—shimmers with gilding and a tiny 1.3 cm square of translucent enamel that lends a jewel-like translucency and vibrant color. Attached to a slender velvet strip (41.6 cm long), it was likely pinned or worn as a fashionable accessory on clothing or headdresses by the elite. The repoussé technique, combined with gild...