The Facts
On September 4, 2026, Aguttes announced that a rare Limoges champlevé enamel Gospel book cover sold for €104,000 at its Haute Époque auction on July 8, 2026, doubling its pre-sale estimate. The gilded copper plaque, made in Limoges in the late 12th or very early 13th century, depicts a Crucifixion against a lapis blue background with polychrome rosettes and was later converted into a tabernacle door. Aguttes expert Grégoire de Thoury, director of the Furniture & Works of Art department, identified the piece through a keyhole cut into the Virgin's robe, restoring a provenance forgotten for nearly a century. De Thoury discussed the rediscovery on BFM Patrimoine's "Le Coffre-fort" on August 26, 2026.
The Signal
The result underscores the premium the market places on documented provenance in medieval decorative arts. As Aguttes notes, Limoges enamels—produced in quantity across 12th- and 13th-century Limousin workshops—vary widely in value, with traceable histories to historic collections or museums driving significant appreciation. For collectors, the sale is a reminder that seemingly modest objects such as crosses, croziers, or pyxes can yield major finds, making expert appraisal essential before sale.
- People: Grégoire de Thoury
- Auction Houses: Aguttes
- Prices: €104,000
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