Auvergne Processional Cross, Late 15th–early 16th Century

Rare large Auvergne processional cross in gilded copper
Auvergne, late 15th – early 16th century

A beautiful and authentic gilded copper processional cross, characteristic of Auvergne workshops from the late Middle Ages, retaining a lovely antique patina.

The crossbar and the vertical arms, which are tubular in cross-section, are topped with spherical finials. The ends are embellished with openwork collars and small figurative relief appliqués, lending the piece great decorative richness. The central cabochon knot, ovoid in shape and fluted, is typical of liturgical objects from this period.

Attached to the center of the obverse is a remarkable Christ in the round, characterized by particularly fine casting and meticulous modeling. The body, with its slender proportions, features finely rendered anatomy, with subtle musculature and a face marked by solemnity. He wears a knotted perizonium with elegantly rendered folds, reflecting a style still influenced by late Gothic aesthetics while foreshadowing the first influences of the Renaissance.

The reverse side is adorned with a Virgin and Child and relief appliqués, following an iconography frequently found on processional crosses of this period and region, recalling the dual Christological and Marian character of these objects intended for liturgical ceremonies.

This cross still retains its original mounting socket, designed to hold the processional shaft.

A work of fine quality, representative of Auvergne religious goldsmithing at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries, combining monumental simplicity with delicate carving.