Welcome to the database! Here you will find information on known surviving medieval European portable altars. Click on an altar’s name to go to its information page, which contains specifics about iconography, inscriptions, and a bibliography for each altar.
The altars are arranged chronologically, so if you’re looking for a specific inscription or place made, you may want to search the page instead of scroll. All countries (both “where made” and “current location”) are based on modern geographic boundaries for the sake of consistency.
Additions are ongoing. Last updated: October 29, 2021.
To view the current locations map, click here.
| name | date & Where Made | Patron or Artist | Current Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham (Cuthbert) | 7th-8th cent., England | Unknown | Durham Cathedral, Durham, England (DURCL 3.14.1) |
| Freiburg I (Adelhauser) | Late 8th cent., Regensburg?, Germany | Unknown | Augustinermuseum, Freiburg-im-Breisgau, Germany (Nr. 12133) |
| Met Museum | 9th-12th cent.; unknown | Unknown | Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, USA (17.190.42a-d) |
| Munich I (Gold Ciborium) | 877-99; probably court workshop of Charles the Bald, Germany | King Arnulf of Carinthia, given to St. Emmeram, Regensburg | Residenzmuseum, Munich, Germany |
| Girona | 10th cent.; Sant Pere de Rodes, Catalonia, Spain | Donated by Josue and Elimburga | Museu d’Art de Girona, Girona, Spain (Nr. 20) |
| Madrid | 10th/11th cent., 12th cent. (textiles); near San Millán de la Cogolla, Spain | Unknown | Museo Arqueológico Nacional, Madrid, Spain (63936) |
| Salzburg I | 11th cent., possibly Salzburg, Austria | Unknown | Heimatmuseum Seekirchen am Wallersee, Salzburg, Austria |
| Oldenburg | 1000-50; Westphalia or Lower Saxony, Germany | Unknown | Landesmuseum für Kunst und Kulturgeschichte, Oldenburg, Germany (Nr. 3575) |
| Paris – Cluny I | c.1000-50; Bamberg or Fulda, Germany | Unknown | Musée de Cluny, Paris, France (Cl. 13072) |
| Hildesheim I | c.1007-15; Hildesheim, Germany | Unknown | Dommuseum, Hildesheim, Germany (DS26) |
| Munich II (Holy Cross) | c.1015/1020; Germany | Commissioned by HRE Henry II | Residenzmuseum, Munich, Germany |
| Munich III (Watterbach) | c.1020; Bamberg or Fulda, Germany | Probably commissioned by HRE Henry II | Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, Munich, Germany (MA 198) |
| Paris – Cluny II (Judith of Flanders) | c.1025-75; Winchester, England | Probably commissioned by Judith of Flanders | Musée de Cluny, Paris, France (Cl. 11459) |
| Cleveland I (Gertrude) | c.1038-45; Lower Saxony, Germany | Commissioned by Countess Gertrude of Brunswick | Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, USA (Nr. 1931.462) |
| Melk (Svanhild) | c.1050-75; Rhineland, possibly Cologne, Germany | Owned by Countess Svanhild | Stiftskirche, Melk, Austria |
| Dumbarton Oaks | 1050-75; possibly Cologne, Germany | Unknown | Dumbarton Oaks, Washington, D.C., USA (BZ 1937.16) |
| Darmstadt I | 1050-75; Rhineland, possibly Cologne, Germany | Unknown | Hessisches Landesmuseum, Darmstadt, Germany (Kg 54:221) |
| Osnabrück I | 1050-75 (reliefs), 1220-25 altar; Osnabrück, Germany | Unknown | Domschatz und Diözesanmuseum, Osnabrück, Germany (DS73) |
| Berlin W2 | c.1075; Lower Saxony, Germany | Unknown | Kunstgewerbemuseum, Berlin, Germany (W2) |
| Darmstadt II | 1075-1100 (reliefs), 13th cent. (metal); Rhineland, possibly Cologne, Germany | Unknown | Hessisches Landesmuseum, Darmstadt, Germany (Kg 54:223) |
| Paris – Cluny III | Early 11th cent. (ivory), 11th-12th cent. (rest of altar); possibly Bamberg (ivory), Rhineland (altar), Germany | Unknown | Musée de Cluny, Paris, France (Cl. 13067) |
| Bad Gandersheim | 11th cent.; probably Hildesheim, Germany | Unknown | Frauenstift Gandersheim, Bad Gandersheim, Germany (Nr. 57) |
| Tongres | 11th cent.; Belgium | Unknown | Museum der Basilika Notre Dame, Tongers, Belgium |
| Reykjavik | 11th cent.; Unknown | Unknown | Isländisches Nationalmuseum, Reykjavik, Iceland (Nr. 10897) |
| Wassenberg | 11th cent.; possibly Cologne, Germany | Stone allegedly owned by St. Willibrord; rest Unknown | Probsteipfarrkirche St. Georg, Wassenberg, Germany |
| Trier I (Willibrord) | 11th cent. (ivory panels, box), 12th cent. (top reliefs); Byzantium (Turkey) or Germany | Green porphyry stone owned by St. Willibrord (688-738) | Domschatz, Trier, Germany |
| Schnütgen I | 10th cent. (ground reliefs), 11th cent. (altar); Westphalia or Lower Saxony, Germany | Unknown | Schnütgen Museum, Cologne, Germany (G13) |
| Brunswick I | 11th. cent.; Brunswick, Germany | Unknown | Städtisches Museum, Brunswick, Germany (B79) |
| Eichstätt | End of 10th cent. (ivory panels), middle of 11th cent. (altar); Byzantium (Turkey) and Lower Saxony, Germany | Unknown | Benediktinerinnenabtei St. Walburg, Eichstätt, Germany |
| Hanover | 11th cent., 13th cent. (reliefs); Lower Saxony, Germany | Unknown | Kestner-Museum, Hanover, Germany (B124) |
| Paris – Louvre I | End of 11th cent.; near Hildesheim, Germany | Unknown | Louvre Museum, Paris, France (OA 8094) |
| Conques I (Saint Faith) | c.1087-1106; probably Conques, France | Unknown | Treasury of Ste. Foy, Conques, France |
| Berlin W8 (Adelvoldus) | By 1100; Brunswick or Hildesheim, Germany | Given by Adelvoldus to the Church of St. Blaise in Brunswick | Kunstgewerbemuseum, Berlin, Germany (W8) |
| Walters | 11th-12th cent.; Reichenau or Paderborn, Germany | Unknown | Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, USA (Nr. 53-77) |
| Münster I | 11th-12th cent. (reliefs), 1250-1300 (beadwork), 16th cent. (altar); near Münster, Germany | Unknown | Domkammer der Kathedralkirche St. Paulus, Münster, Germany (U.I/1) |
| Trier II | Late 11th cent., middle 12th cent.; possibly Trier, Germany | Unknown | Domschatz, Trier, Germany (Nr. 10) |
| Copenhagen I | 11th-13th cent., Denmark | Unknown | Nationalmuseum, Copenhagen, Denmark (D.5309) |
| Copenhagen II | 11th-13th cent., Denmark | Unknown | Nationalmuseum, Copenhagen, Denmark (D.12970) |
| Copenhagen III | 11th-13th cent., Denmark | Unknown | Nationalmuseum, Copenhagen, Denmark (D.17) |
| Paderborn I (Abdinghof) | 1100-07; Paderborn or Helmarshausen, Germany | Attributed to Roger of Helmarshausen | Diözesanmuseum and Domschatzkammer, Paderborn, Germany (PR50) |
| Ourense | c.1105; Spain | Commissioned by Abbot Pierre for Cellanova Abbey | Museo Catedralicio de Ourense, Galicia, Spain |
| Conques II (Bégon) | 1100; Conques, France | Made by Pons (Bishop of Barbastre) under Abbot Bégon III | Treasury of Ste. Foy, Conques, France |
| Paderborn II (Heinrich von Werl) | c.1100-20; Paderborn or Helmarshausen, Germany | Made by Roger of Helmarshausen for Bishop Heinrich von Werl of Paderborn | Diözesanmuseum and Domschatzkammer, Paderborn, Germany (DS2) |
| Nuremberg | 1111-44 (altar), 16th cent. (frame); Catanzaro, Italy | Owned/donated by Count Geoffrey of Catanzaro | Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg, Germany (KG796) |
| British Museum I | 1126-50; Spain | Unknown | British Museum, London, England (PE 1978,0502.4) |
| Berlin W11 (Eilbertus) | c.1130-40; Cologne, Germany | Made by Eilbertus of Cologne | Kunstgewerbemuseum, Berlin, Germany (W11) |
| British Museum II | c.1140-50; England | Unknown | British Museum, London, England (1963,1107.1-4) |
| León (Sancha of León-Castilla) | c.1144; León, Spain and the Levant | Owned by Sancha of León-Castilla | Museo de la Real Colegiata de San Isidoro, León, Spain (IIC-3-089-002-0008) |
| Brussels (Stavelot) | c.1150-60; Meuse Valley, Belgium | Unknown | Musée royaux d’art et d’histoire, Brussels, Belgium (Nr. 1590) |
| Bamberg I (Paradise) | 1150-75; Hildesheim, Germany | Unknown | Diözesanmuseum, Bamberg, Germany (Nr. 2722/18) |
| Münster II | 1150-75; near Hildesheim, Germany | Unknown | Westfälisches Landesmuseum für Kunst und Kulturgeschichte, Münster, Germany |
| St. Petersburg | c.1150-75; Cologne (ivory), Rhineland (altar), Germany | Unknown | Ermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia (Nr. 168) |
| Osnabrück II | 1150-1200 and 1220-25; near Osnabrück, Germany | Unknown | Domschatz und Diözesanmuseum, Osnabrück, Germany (Nr. 72) |
| Zurich | 1150-1200 (enamels), 20th century (altar); Cologne, Germany | Unknown | Schweizerisches Landesmuseum, Zurich, Switzerland (LM 29408) |
| Darmstadt III | 1150-1200; Lower Saxony, Germany | Unknown | Hessisches Landesmuseum, Darmstadt, Germany (Kg 54:258) |
| Feltre | 1150-1200; Northern Italy | Unknown | Museo Diocesano Belluno-Feltre, Feltre, Italy |
| Darmstadt IV | 1150-1200 (ivory), 18th cent. (additions); Cologne, Germany | Donated by Wolbero | Hessisches Landesmuseum, Darmstadt, Germany (Kg 54:321) |
| Modena | c.1150-1200; possibly Lower Saxony, Germany | Unknown | Musei del Duomo, Modena, Italy |
| Berlin W12 | c.1155; Cologne or Hildesheim, Germany | Unknown | Kunstgewerbemuseum, Berlin, Germany (W12) |
| Brunswick II | c.1160; Brunswick or Hildesheim, Germany | Unknown | Städtisches Museum, Braunschweig, Germany (B24) |
| Siegburg I (St. Gregorius) | c.1160; Cologne, Germany | Unknown | Sankt Servatius Schatzkammer, Siegburg, Germany |
| Siegburg II (St. Mauritius) | c.1160; Cologne, Germany | Unknown | Sankt Servatius Schatzkammer, Siegburg, Germany |
| Mönchengladbach | c.1160; probably Cologne, Germany | Unknown | Münsterkirche St. Vitus, Mönchengladbach, Germany |
| Victoria & Albert I | c.1140-60; probably Hildesheim, Germany | Unknown | Victoria and Albert Museum, London, England (10-1873) |
| Naples | 1160-70; Northern Rhineland, Germany | Unknown | Museo Duca di Martina, Naples, Italy (Nr. 93)? |
| Paris – Louvre II | 1160-70 (metal), 1865-87 (altar); Hildesheim and Aachen, Germany | Unknown | Louvre Museum, Paris, France (OA 8095) |
| Berlin W14 | c.1162; Hildesheim, Germany | Unknown | Kunstgewerbemuseum, Berlin, Germany (W14) |
| Fritzlar | c.1170; near Fulda or Fritzlar, Germany | Unknown | Domschatz und Museum des St. Petri-Domes, Fritzlar, Germany |
| Berlin K4183 | c.1170-80; Cologne, Germany | Unknown | Kunstgewerbemuseum, Berlin, Germany K4183 |
| Schnütgen II | c.1170-80; Cologne, Germany | Unknown | Museum Schnütgen, Cologne, Germany |
| Augsburg I (Oettingen) | 1170-80 and 1371; Rhineland, Cologne or Oettingen, Germany | Unknown | Diözesanmuseum St. Afra, Augsburg, Germany (DM IV/1) |
| Xanten | c.1175-80 and 1724; probably Cologne, Germany | Unknown | Stiftsmuseum, Xanten, Germany (Lx17) |
| Hildesheim II | 1175-1200; Hildesheim, Germany | Unknown | Dommuseum, Hildesheim, Germany (DS24) |
| Hildesheim III | 1175-1200; Hildesheim, Germany | Unknown | Dommuseum, Hildesheim, Germany (DS25) |
| Agrigento | 1175-1200; Sicily or the Kingdom of Jerusalem? | Unknown | Media Museo Diocesano, Agrigento, Sicily, Italy |
| Bamberg II | c.1180; Cologne, Germany | Unknown | Diözesanmuseum, Bamberg, Germany (2272/19) |
| Regensburg | 1189; Regensburg, Germany | Unknown | Stadtpfarrkirchenstiftung St. Emmeram, Regensburg, Germany (1982/11) |
| British Museum III (Thidericus) | 1190-1200; Hildesheim, Germany | Donated by Abbot Thidericus of St. Godehard, Hildesheim | British Museum, London, England (PE 1902,0625.1) |
| Berlin W28 | Probably 12th cent.; Lower Saxony?, Germany | Unknown | Kunstgewerbemuseum, Berlin, Germany (W28) |
| Berlin W27 | Probably 12th cent.; the Levant? | Unknown | Kunstgewerbemuseum, Berlin, Germany (W27) |
| Berlin W9 | Early 12th cent.; Lower Saxony, Germany | Unknown | Kunstgewerbemuseum, Berlin, Germany (W9) |
| Maastricht | 12th cent.; probably Maastricht, the Netherlands | Unknown | Church of Saint-Servatius Schatzkammer, Maastricht, the Netherlands (Nr. 5.4.3) |
| Namur I | 12th cent.; Namur or Liège, Belgium | Unknown | Musée diocésain et Trésor de la Cathédrale Saint-Aubain, Namur, Belgium (Nr. 11) |
| Freiburg II | 12th cent.; Lower Saxony, Germany | Unknown | Augustinermuseum, Freiburg-im-Breisgau, Germany (K 9/M) |
| Andria | End of 12th cent.; Southern Italy | Unknown | Museo Diocesano di Andria, Andria, Italy |
| Berlin W5 | Late 12th/early 13th cent.; Italy or Byzantium (Turkey) | Unknown | Kunstgewerbemuseum, Berlin, Germany (W5) |
| Freiburg III | Late 12th/early 13th cent.; possibly Aachen, Germany | Unknown | Augustinermuseum, Freiburg-im-Breisgau, Germany (K 10/M) |
| Salzburg II | 12th/13th cent.; Salzburg?, Austria | Unknown | Salzburg Dommuseum, Salzburg, Austria |
| Quedlinburg | c.1200; Sicily?, Italy | Unknown | Schatzkammer der Stiftskirche St. Servatius, Quedlinburg, Germany (Nr. 44) |
| Berlin W4 | c.1200; Lower Saxony, Germany | Unknown | Kunstgewerbemuseum, Berlin, Germany (W4) |
| Willebadessen | c.1200-1207; probably Germany | Unknown | Pfarrkirche St. Vitus, Willebadessen, Germany |
| Cleveland II | c.1200-20; Cologne, Germany | Unknown | Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, USA (Nr. 1927.29) |
| Klagenfurt I (Gurker) | 1200-50; Salzburg, Austria | Unknown | Schatzkammer, Gurk, Klagenfurt, Austria |
| Munich IV | 1200-50; possibly Regensburg, Germany | Unknown | Schatzkammer der Residenz, Munich, Germany (Nr. 12) |
| Merseburg | 1200-50; Saxony?, Germany | Unknown | Dommuseum, Merseburg, Germany (B Nr. 62) |
| Trento | 1207-18; probably Trento, Italy | Unknown | Museo Diocesano Tridentino, Trento, Italy (Nr. 32) |
| Namur II (Jacques de Vitry) | c.1216-30; possibly Acre, the Levant | Owned by Jacques de Vitry | Musée des Arts Anciens du Namurois, Namur, Belgium (TO25) |
| Narbonne I | 1273; Southern France | Made by Qui de Pileo; probably for Pierre de Montbrun | Cathedrale de Saint Just et Saint Pasteur, Narbonne, France |
| Lyon I | 13th cent.; Byzantium (Turkey) | Unknown | Cathedrale de Saint-Jean Baptiste, Lyon, France |
| Narbonne II | 15th century; Southern France | Unknown | Cathedrale de Saint Just, Narbonne, France |
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Sarah C. Luginbill 