Central cross plaque in bronze and copper engraved,... Lot 14

Central cross plaque in bronze and copper engraved, engraved and gilded. Christ: long stretched neck with advanced head, inclined to the left, hair shared by a median stripe, long locks resting on the shoulders, comma whiskers and short beard; horizontal arm with raised forearms and bent hands on the thumbs in adduction; anatomy still influenced by the Byzantine type with pectorals in pilgrimage, many submammary ribs and slightly swollen abdomen; long perizonium stopping above the knees with median V-shaped fold and knot on the right hip; bent legs offset to the left and juxtaposed feet. Cross: branches ending in a scrolled capital; intersection in a cruciferous circle bearing the alpha and omega and, behind Christ's shoulders, IN RI (monogram of Christ). Inscriptions at the ends and on the circle: on the left,[CHRISTVS] REX OBIT IN[CRVCE] (Christ the King dies on the cross); on the top, L[AVS] IN NO[MINE] PROT[ECTORIS NOSTRI] (Praise in the name of our protector); on the right, Q[VI] P[ERPETVO] LAV[DA] TVS S[IT] (May it be praised forever); on the bottom,[RES] VRGIT B[E]N[E]I (?) M[ERI]TO (He rises rightly); on the circle, + PRO CRVCIS INDIQVE (for INDICATIONE) X (CHRISTVS SATVRNI[REGNO NOS ERADICAVIT] (In exchange for the price of His cross, Christ ripped us from the reign of Saturn) Western France, first half of the 12th century Height: 28.8 cm - Width: 24 cm Christ, Height: 16.3 cm - Width: 16.8 cm Fixed on a blackened wooden crucifix XVII/XVIIIe (worn gilding) Provenance: old private collection, Nantes, in the family since the 19th century The Christ of this central cross plaque, of a particularly refined construction, is a rather rare model. Only one other copy seems to have been listed by Doctor Paul Thoby, former honorary curator of the Thomas Dobrée departmental museum in Nantes, author of a remarkable book on the Crucifix. Illustrated under n°144, pl. LXIV, it is indicated as being kept in a family of Belligné (Lo