Nomos 5

Germany, Augsburg. c. 1520. Plaque (Bronze - bell metal, silvered, 139 x 103mm, 461 g), circle of Hans Schwarz. At the center, the Virgin, nimbate and seated facing on high-backed throne, her body turned slightly to the right and her head turned slightly left, holding the infant Jesus, nimbate, lying on her lap; He turns slightly to the right, raising his right hand in benediction and resting his left on an orb; at bottom left and right, winged putto helping to fold the Virgin’s robes; at middle left, putto arranging the Virgin’s hair; at middle right, a putto playing a flute; and above to left and right, wingless child arranging garlands behind the Virgin’s throne; to left and right at the edge, pilaster. Rev. Plain with some incuse areas behind the high points of the obverse design. Kress 437 (but lacking the side pilasters). Toderi-Vannel 380. Weber 125. Very rare. A remarkably fine piece, toned, beautifully detailed and in very high relief. Good extremely fine.

Ex Astarte XVIII, 9 May 2005, 389.

Weber knew of only four examples of this in bell metal, one in lead, and seven in bronze (at least one is a late after cast); a contemporary, painted papier maché example is in Augsburg. This is clearly one of the finest known.