This stunning piece of early medieval art shows Christ wearing a crown and perizoneum, the folds of which are outlined in blue enamel. His body is modelled with precise delineation of the ribs, his hair and beard finely stippled, his enamel eyes open and his knees bent to the right. The figure is applied to a cross with scrolling decoration and traces of blue and turquoise enamel and the rear is incised with the cross maker's mark.
These medieval cross figures were defined by a French scholar Paul Thoby in the 1950's where he identified four main groups dating between 1150 and 1300. This example would appear to be 'Type II' or 'Gem group'. The stippling to the hair and beard, the delineation of the ribs, the use of enamel to the eyes, loincloth and suppedaneum and the slight bend to the knees indicates a date between 1225 and 1250.

cf Limoges figural cross - The Cluny Musee National du Moyen Age (23671)

Provenance: Private collection, Paris.