Beschreibung:

DescriptionProperty from the Descendants of John and Gertrude HuntEuropean, possibly 12th century and 15th centuryPortable Altar
gilt copper, stone and wood24.5 by 19cm., 9⅝ by 7½in.Condition reportThere is wear to the stone slab, including some small chips and abrasions. The stone slab is loose in its setting. There is wear to the wood, including some stable splitting and some chips. There are rectangular openings to the wood at the back, which indicate former mounting. There are also incised circles and dots to the wood at the back. Some whitish residues to the wood. There are some losses to the gilt repousse elements, including to the bands at the top left corner, on the right, and to the right of and below the cross. There is further wear to the metal including some warping, nicks and scratches, and wear to the gilding at the high points.       
Please note that Condition 12 of the Conditions of Business for Buyers (Online Only) is not applicable to this lot.
The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The condition report is provided to assist you with assessing the condition of the lot and is for guidance only. Any reference to condition in the condition report for the lot does not amount to a full description of condition. The images of the lot form part of the condition report for the lot. Certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot. In particular, the online images may represent colors and shades which are different to the lot's actual color and shades. The condition report for the lot may make reference to particular imperfections of the lot but you should note that the lot may have other faults not expressly referred to in the condition report for the lot or shown in the online images of the lot. The condition report may not refer to all faults, restoration, alteration or adaptation. The condition report is a statement of opinion only. For that reason, the condition report is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice regarding the condition of the lot. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS ONLINE CONDITION REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE/BUSINESS APPLICABLE TO THE RESPECTIVE SALE.ProvenanceJohn Hunt (1900-1975) and Gertrude Hunt (1903-1995);
Thence by descent to the present ownersExhibitedMaidstone (Kent), Leeds Castle, on loan until 2022Catalogue noteThe wood and stone elements of this intriguing portable altar could date from as early as the 11th or 12th century. Mount holes indicate that the object may represent the top section of a box-shaped portable altar such as a 12th-century example from Hildesheim (Dom-Museum Hildesheim, inv. no. DS 25). A portable altar with feet from circa 1100 in the Musei del Duomo di Modena is inlaid with a similar serpentine stone slab. The gilt copper mounts with fleurs-de-lis and other floral motifs are likely to have been added in the 14th or 15th century. Similar motifs appear in the 14th-century embossed bands incorporated into the portable altar (circa 1100) of Saint Foy in Conques.