The Adoration of the Child, French, Limoges, early 16th century. Photo Sotheby's

the frame inscribed: VENITE ADOREMUS DOMINUM and with a later engraving of a coat of arms, possibly those of the Van den Ende family of Holland, on the reverse; with two labels inscribed: THOS. F. FLANNERY COLL. CHICAGO numbered 14 and 999A and a label inscribed: H311 in black ink on the reverse, partially gilt painted enamel on copper, in a silvered copper frame, 10.5cm., 4 1/8 in. Estimate 6,000 — 8,000 GBP

Provenance: with Raphael Stora, New York;
Thomas. F. Flannery Jr., Chicago, by 1970;
his sale, Sotheby's London, 1 December 1983, lot 215 (as in early 16th Century style)

Exhibited: Chicago, Martin D'Arcy Gallery of Art, Loyola University of Chicago, Enamels: the XII to the XVI century, 1970, no. 22 (as late 15th century)

Note: The thick lines, rounded faces and summary architecture that give the present enamel its late Gothic appearance relate closely to works attributed to the workshop of the Master of the Orléans triptych and the Master of the Large Foreheads which were both active around 1500. A number of enamels in The Walters Art Gallery attributed to these workshops by Verdier (op.cit.) compare well to the present enamel.

RELATED LITERATURE: P. Verdier, Catalogue of the painted enamels of the Renaissance, cat. Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore, 1967, pp. 31-33, 36-39, 42-43, nos. 20, 22 and 24

Sotheby's. Old Master Sculpture and Works of Art, London | 10 Jul 2014 - http://www.sothebys.com/