Originating from the Abbey of Saint-Denis, these six capitals date back to the Merovingian period. They may have been located in the church of Saint-Pierre before being reused during the renovation works led by Abbot Suger at the Abbey of Saint-Denis. Inspired by ancient models, they were discovered in the 19th century within the masonry of the bell towers of the Saint-Denis church.
These capitals likely bear witness to an ancient state of the Abbey of Saint-Denis. Indeed, it was during the Merovingian period that the abbey flourished, particularly under the patronage of King Dagobert (reign: 629–639), who was its first major benefactor.
They may have originated from the apse of the church of Saint-Pierre, which was part of the architectural complex of the Abbey of Saint-Denis. From 1130 onward, the abbey underwent significant renovations under Abbot Suger, during which Merovingian fragments like these capitals were repurposed.
The six sculptures are inspired by the ancient model of the classical Corinthian capital. The basket of each capital is adorned with one or more rows of acanthus leaves. The relief on some of these baskets is particularly pronounced, as seen on capital Cl. 12117. The marble used is of Pyrenean origin. This provenance has allowed for comparisons with a group of capitals from southwestern Gaul, found in the Garonne basin and as far as Poitou.
