La couronne grecque de la Sainte Couronne de Hongrie: le contexte de ses émaux et de ses bijoux

Abstract

Summary This communication is concerned with the general circumstances under which the corona graeca of the Holy Crown of Hungary would have been produced in Constantinople. It is first considered in the context of „diplomatic gifts”, and is compared with other enamels of the same period that are now in Tbilisi, although it is usually agreed that these are of lower artistic standard than those in Budapest. The point is made that the crown must be the result of the same technical restrictions as any other examples of Byzantine enamel, and that this aspect of production could have involved the re-use of individual plaques, such as that with a rounded top portraying Michael VII Doukas. The question of the locality in the city where the workshop in which the crown was made is discussed, and the minimal evidence for the existence of a „palace workshop”is noted. It is suggested that the modest value of the gems in the crown could be the result of diplomatic or economic considerations; for modern eyes the contrast between them and the perfection of the enamels demands some explanation of this kind. It is pointed out that all the evidence points to there never having been any enamels used in the crowns worn by Byzantine emperors.