The Frankish disc pendant from Limons.
This large early medieval disc pendant was made after the Merovingian ornamental gold disc of Limons.
The Limons gold disc dates back to the
late Merovingian period and was probably made in a Frankish jewellery workshop between the last quarter of the 6th century and the first quarter of the 7th century.
This remarkable medieval disc pendant was made of
solid gold and is now in the Cabinet des médailles of the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris.
Link to the historical model...
The style of this Frankish decorative disc is known as
animal style II, a Germanic art form that was widespread in that period.
In contrast to the historical model, the red inlays of the replica are not made of genuine
Amaldine cloisonné, but of red glass enamel.
The
dimensions are 6.3 cm in diameter, just like the historical model.
You can buy this pendant in high-quality
bronze or real
silver-plated.
Alternatively, also available in 925
sterling silver (Please note the delivery time).
Alloy...
A 1 metre long black
leather strap is included.
The Franconian ornamental disc from Limons is considered a
masterpiece of craftsmanship from the Merovingian period. It shows the face of Christ in the centre of a cross, surrounded by three wild boars.
The background to this depiction is the statement by
St. Augustine of Hippo, for whom even creatures categorised by man as actually harmful, useless or even dangerous are part of the beauty of creation.
The early medieval ornamental disc shows further references to the Christian faith, as the
Christogram, the so-called Chi-Rho (the monogram of Christ) can be seen in the openwork ornament. In this, the first letters of "Christ" in Greek, Χ + Ρ, are superimposed; the Ρ is depicted as an R and the X is indicated in the overall image of the disc.
The decorative disc of Limons also contains the letters Alpha (Α) and Omega (ω), the first and last letters of the
Greek alphabet, which refers to the Apocalypse in the Book of Revelation, in which Christ says: "I am Alpha and Omega", i.e. the beginning and the end of the world.
There are remains on the back that indicate that the disc of Limons was riveted to a base, possibly a
leather flap for a bag, and was probably part of a Frankish reliquary.