Three appliques from a processional cross

Developed by Sienese goldsmiths in the late 13th century and refined in Paris from the early 14th century, the basse-taille technique involves applying translucent enamel over a finely engraved or chased silver or gold ground. The method’s difficulty lies in the absence of clear partitions between colours, producing luminous depth and subtle gradations of light. In the 14th and 15th centuries, liturgical objects such as chalices, reliquaries and crosses, particularly in Italy and Catalonia, were richly adorned with plaques of translucent enamel. For comparable plaques see those in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (inv. nos. 17.190.970-79).