Saint Peter

This enamel plaque probably adorned the lower portion of a wooden cross, in a position just below the feet of Christ. It is possible to identify the saint as Peter by the large key he holds in his right hand. Christ gave the keys of heaven to Peter, an act that came to symbolize that apostle’s role as the first pope and steward of the church. The technique used to create this enamel is called cloisonné, where individual sections were made by gouging indentations into a copper panel and filling those chambers with glass paste. It was then fired to create a glassy surface.