bavarikon4UDescription
The golden hat agrafe with enamelled relief once adorned the hat of Count Palatine Friedrich von Pfalz-Zweibrücken-Vohenstrauß-Parkstein (1557-1597), who was buried in the royal crypt in Lauingen at the age of 40. Also known as "enseignes", the jewellery evolved from medieval pilgrim badges and often depict biblical, heraldic or mythological scenes. In historical German inventories they are also called "Zaichen", "Medeyen" (from Italian "medaglia") or "Haffte". They were sewn onto the headgear and were therefore only designed on the front.
Count Palatine Friedrich’s hat agrafe consists of a base and relief. The base has a curved edge with a pattern of cloverleafs alternating with vine and scrollwork. The red and green enamel has survived here. The relief, which is mounted on the base with clips, shows a mythological scene that has not yet been clarified: a man in fashionable clothes is hurriedly lifting a woman onto a galloping horse, while a bearded man is gesturing in the background. The action is taking place in front of a vaulted architecture on which the strong blue and red of a pillar and the green of the vault are still present. The white and black encrusted enamel on the faces, limbs and parts of the clothing are well preserved. The way the object is made, the design of the edging and the angular facial features of the subjects indicate a close relationship with English hat agrafes of the period.