RECONSIDERING THE CLOISONNÉ MOUNTS ON THE ‘VASE OF SAINT MARTIN’ AT ST. MAURICE D’AGAUNE
RECONSIDERING THE CLOISONNÉ MOUNTS ON THE ‘VASE OF SAINT MARTIN’ AT ST. MAURICE D’AGAUNE

Summary/Abstract: The ancient Abbey at St. Maurice d’Agaune in Switzerland holds three key treasures representing the art of early Medieval inlaying – a sardonyx ewer with garnet cloisonné mounts (Fig. 1), a Byzantine enamelled ewer and an eighth-century reliquary decorated with overall garnet cloisonné. The enamelled gold ewer, which has resisted many attempts at dating and interpretation, has been one focus of Csanád Balint’s multi-faceted research. I hope that this re-examination of the conventional dating of the cloisonné mounts on its companion piece, the sardonyx ewer known as the ‘Vase of Saint Martin’, will prove convincing and serve as a small tribute to his wide-ranging and inspiring mind. In contrast to the enameled gold ewer, the remarkable gold and cloisonné mounts on the sardonyx ewer, have never been the subject of a study in their own right. This paper reconsiders several key technical and stylistic features and challenges the seventh-century date currently accepted in the literature and suggests that the mounts fit more closely with fifth- and early sixth-century goldworking and cloisonné technology. The following visual observations may someday be reinforced or amended by scientific analysis.

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