Devotional pendant (cameo on shell)

This oval-shaped pendant (7 cm x 5 cm) serves as both a devotional item and a piece of jewellery. It is made up of a cameo on a convex shell on the front and a niello-inlaid silver plate on the back, encased in a silver setting.

The cameo represents Anne of France (1461-1522), kneeling and praying, presented by Saint Michael to Trinitarian Saint Anne (Saint Anne, the Virgin and the Christ Child). This scene is notable for its abundance of detail, like the little lion on the arm of the chair.

The lower part of the cameo features two angels holding a heraldic shield bearing a coat of arms. It is the coat of arms of Anne of France, daughter of Louis XI and married since 1474 to Pierre de Beaujeu, who became Pierre II, Duke of Bourbon in 1488 († 1503).

Anne of France had a particular devotion to Saint Anne. The niello-inlaid back depicts the meeting of Anne and Joachim at the Golden Gate in the upper register. The kiss at the Golden Gate alludes to the Bourbons' devotion to the Immaculate Conception, famously represented in the Triptych of the Virgin in Glory by the Master of Moulins.

In the lower register, we can recognise Saint Giles the Hermit accompanied by his nurturing doe. 

Certain iconographic details make it possible to date the object with reasonable precision: it is likely that Anne of France commissioned the object when she was both regent of France and Duchess of Bourbon, therefore between 1488 and 1491.

Shell cameos are a very particular type of cameo; as they are engraved and carved on a shell, they are easier to work with than one carried out on gemstones. These objects were still rare in the 15th century, but would become very successful in the 16th century. And despite that, this object combining a cameo with a niello-inlaid plate appears to be a unicum.

Provenance: Vivaux collection; purchased in 2024