Plaat

About this artwork

Plaat (ronde), brons, brede geornamenteerde rand, daarbinnen in reliëf een olifant .

Art Historical Context

Nestled among treasures from the late Middle Ages to the early, this anonymous bronze *Plaat* (round plate) dates to between 1300 and 1600. Measuring just 11 cm in diameter and a mere 0.2 cm thick, it's a delicate yet striking example of medieval metalwork. The piece features a wide, ornately decorated border framing a central relief of an elephant, rendered with skillful low-relief carving that brings the majestic animal to life against the shimmering bronze surface. Crafted in bronze—a durable alloy prized for its casting properties and lustrous patina—this thin plaquette showcases advanced...

About the Artist

anonymous

In the vast tapestry of art history, "Anonymous" stands not as a singular individual but as a collective designation for countless unidentified creators whose works have endured across millennia. These artists, spanning prehistoric cave painters to medieval illuminators and folk craftsmen, produced the foundational layers of human visual culture. Prior to the Renaissance, when individual fame emer...