Enamel Plaque Depicting The Virgin And Child, Laudin

Enamel Plaque “Mater Dei”
Laudin, Limoges, France, 17th century
Painted enamel on copper, gilded details

A rectangular enamel plaque depicting the Virgin and Child with radiant haloes. The Christ Child reaches toward a small radiant cross in the sky, a poignant prefiguration of the Crucifixion. The composition is framed by a richly ornamented black background with gilt scrolling foliage and polychrome floral motifs in blue, pink, and yellow. Below, the Latin inscription MATER·DEI (“Mother of God”) identifies the subject.

The work is signed with the monogram “I·L.”, and inscribed on the reverse Laudin émailler à Limoges, linking it to the workshop of the Laudin family, one of the foremost enamel painters of Limoges in the 17th and 18th century. Possibly by Jacques II Laudin (1663–1729), his enamels are known for combining delicate grisaille modeling with vibrant gilding and colorful ornament.

This plaque exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of the Limoges enamel workshops, which from the Renaissance onward produced exquisite devotional images for private contemplation. The restrained palette of grisaille with gold and color accents reflects both technical mastery and spiritual introspection, qualities that defined the later phase of the Limoges enamel tradition.

Dutch private collection

In good restored condition