Chasse Reliquary - Styles and Influences
- Text
-
333
Chasse Reliquary
Limoges; 1st quarter 13th c.
A roofed chasse was the basic shape for reliquaries from the medieval Limoges enamel workshops. The shape originates from the Classical sarcophaguses in which the remains of Early Christian martyrs were kept. The longer sides of the chasse are decorated differently, the front is more elaborate, on the back there is less decoration and it is inferior.