A gilt incense boat with champlevé decoration, Limoges, 13th century Copper with remnants of fire gilding. Pointed oval bowl, the small base deformed and torn due to age. A hinged lid on one side, curved handles on both sides, extending into fully sculptured animal's heads. The entire surface decorated in champlevé technique in red and blue enamel. A continuous border of decorative tendrils on the sides, two raised quatrefoils with angels surrounded by leafy vines on the top. Length 19.5 cm. Provenance: From the Gabrielse collection (Midelburg, NL), previously Christie's Paris, auctioned in March 2008, from the collection of Charles Gillot, acquired in August 1897 from the art dealer Stanislas Baron (1824 - 1908) in Paris. Condition: III