Rare Limoges Gilt-Bronze Animal Circa 12th-13th century AD A rare gilt-bronze ornamental fitting surmounted by a seated animal, possibly a lion, with a rounded head, prominent muzzle and upright posture. The stylised figure is cast with an open space beneath the body and mounted on a cylindrical socket. Below is a rectangular plate decorated with elaborate openwork foliate scrolls, with pierced holes along the edges for attachment. Limoges, a city in central France, became one of Europe's most important centres of medieval metalworking during the 12th and 13th centuries. Its workshops were particularly celebrated for opus Lemovicense, or Limoges work, a distinctive tradition of champlevé enamelling in which coloured glass was fused into recessed areas of copper or bronze, often combined with gilding. Craftsmen produced reliquaries, crosses, candlesticks, decorative mounts and animal-shaped objects for churches, monasteries and wealthy patrons. Limoges metalwork was exported extensively across Europe, with examples reaching England, Scandinavia and the Mediterranean. Size: 6cm x 6.5cm x 1.2cm (set of 2) Provenance: Private European Collection; formerly acquired from old UK and European collection formed since the 1970s. COMBINED SHIPPING We offer combined shipping only for items purchased in the same auction. You need to pay for these together; otherwise, the system will not combine shipping. We don't combine and refund shipping afterwards. SHIPPING WITHIN THE EU ONLY! We ship exclusively to addresses within the European Union. Please ensure that you can provide an EU delivery address before bidding.