Enamelled gold pendant with Anna Selbdritt. French or German, 16th century.

A Renaissance gold and enamel miniature altar pendant with Anna Selbdritt.

French or German, early 16th century.

Measures 5 x 3.3 x 0.9cm.

The pendant takes the arched form of an altarpiece, the glazed compartment containing a repoussé relief of the Virgin and Child with the Virgin’s Mother, Saint Anne. The miniature sculpture is decorated in translucent enamels of red, blue, green and yellow. The sides of the pendant are decorated with enamelled green and blue foliage and flowers, the reverse is further decorated with engraved foliage and flowers, within a rope twist border.

A pendant of similar form and palette of enamels (although using the basse-taille technique), with an image of Saint Barbara can be found in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, Reference Number; 1938.1179. The pendant is catalogued as; Reliquary Pendant of Saint Barbara. France, circa 1495–1505.