#essen

ph. Danko Maksimovic - Essen, Germany (2023)

Essen Crown,

The Essen Crown is the oldest surviving example of a fleur-de-lys crown in Europe.

Modern historical analysis has rejected this romantic origin story. Research suggests the crown was actually crafted later, between 1050 and 1100.

Instead of being used by a mortal king, it was created specifically as a votive crown to adorn the famous Golden Madonna of Essen, the oldest fully sculptural figure of Mary north of the Alps. The statue was ritually crowned during important liturgical feasts.

The base consists of a heavily silver-alloyed gold band, with a second outer layer soldered on made from pure gold wire filigree.

It is lavishly decorated with regular rows of natural pearls and cabochon-cut gemstones, including a prominent triangular-set sapphire on the front.

Among its embedded jewels is a late Roman gem carved from red almandine garnet featuring the head of Medusa.

Diameter: 12.5 cm (approx. 4.9 inches).