Eagle Attacking a Fish (one of five medallions from a coffret)
Unknown Artist
ca. 1110–30
Medium
Copper-gilt, champlevé enamel
Dimensions
Overall: 3 9/16 x 9/16 in. (9 x 1.5 cm) Overall (with nail tangs): 3 15/16 x 9/16 in. (10 x 1.5 cm)
Classification
Enamels-Champlevé
Culture
French
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number
17.190.689
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold the dynamic "Eagle Attacking a Fish," one of five medallions adorning a luxurious coffret, or small casket, crafted in France around 1110–30. This tiny treasure, measuring just under 4 inches across, captures a moment of raw natural drama: a majestic eagle swoops down on its prey, embodying the medieval fascination with the wild kingdom. Produced during the Romanesque period, such enamels decorated high-status objects like reliquaries or jewelry boxes, blending artistry with piety and power. The masterpiece employs champlevé enamel on copper-gilt—a sophisticated technique where artisan...