Medieval Processional Cross North Italy, 15th century A.D. and later. A gilt copper-alloy processional cross assembled on a later wooden core; the obverse with a central nimbate Corpus Christi wearing a crown of thorns, arms extended, short loincloth covering the pudenda, the arms of the cross with decorative finials, with applied sheets depicting the three symbols of the evangelists (eagle, angel and ox, i.e. Saints John, Luke and Matthew) on the upper, right and left arms, the lower arm with an angel; the reverse with an applied bust of an angel (possibly depicting Archangel Michael or Luke the Evangelist) with a floral appliqué above and below, the top and bottom arm with bull appliqués for Saint Matthew, and both the side arms with an angle appliqué; the cross resting on a petalled sphere with a slightly flaring shaft, probably from another cross; mounted on a custom-made wooden display stand. Cf. Mezzacasa, L. M., ‘Per un corpus di croci astili tra Veneto e Trentino (secoli XIV-XV)’, in Hortus Artium Medievalium, 19 (2013), pp. 433-447, figs. 1, 5, 6, 16, 26. 2.9 kg total, 63.5 cm (77.5 cm including stand) (25 in. (30 1/2 in.)). From an old Parisian collection, 1980s. Property of an Oxfordshire, UK, gentleman. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr. Raffaele D'Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate no.11415-192819. The sheets composing the cross seem to be of North Italian workmanship of 15th century A.D. However, the cross has been reconstructed later with original elements that were probably disposed in a slightly different way. All metalwork retains some of its original gilding, the cross has been repaired and although the appliqués are contemporary, may not all be original to the cross. However, taking into consideration that these crosses were in use for centuries, many were continuously restored, sometimes not being disposed exactly as they should have been. Four of the five angels (two looking right, and the other two looking left) were probably originally disposed around the Christ on a cross, while the figures of the Evangelists (the lion of Saint Mark is absent, probably replaced with an angel) were a better frame for the single central angel on the reverse, possibly evoking the Evangelist Luke or Saint Michael. It is to be noted that this figure is bearing the chalice of the Christ’s passion (or of the Holy Bread) in his hands and at least two of the other angels had objects linked with the passion of Christ: the holy sponge and the holy robe, while the other two have objects which are now difficult to interpret. The representation of the Tetramorphs is a common subject on the processional crosses and comes from the vision of Ezekiel (1,10). [A video of this lot is available to view on Timeline Auctions Website.]