Analogues: Contemporary Pieces
Depending on where and by whom a pyx is made, even pyxes made in the same area or the same century can have very different characteristics. The first pyx to the left, from the British Museum, was made in Limoges like the Malcove pyx, in a similar time period, and uses similar colours and enamelling techniques. However, the overall design of the pyx is very different, as it depicts gilt angels in semi-circles, rather than the interspersed circles of the Malcove pyx. Although the two are clearly related, with near-identical shapes and artistic techniques, the British Museum pyx takes a very different direction with the champlevé enamel decoration.
This second pyx is also a product of 13th century Limoges, and champlevé enamelling. Like the other Limoges pyxes, it shares the same basic shape of a cylidrical body with a conical hinged lid. This pyx has a design much more similar to the Malcove pyx than the British Museum pyx, with a design focused on repeated circles containing a design, and more prominent floral scrolls. This pyx is clearly more richly made than the Malcove pyx. None of the metal base can be seen as it can around the edges of the Malcove pyx, instead covered with engraved gold gilt. The main circles, here white enamel, are present on this pyx, but they are meant to represent the wafers that the pyx would have held, as evidenced by the stylized ‘IHS’ Christograms in the centre of each circle (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 32.100.282). The large, light-blue enamel semicircles of this pyx are more similar to the semi-circles enclosing angels in the British Museum pyx than the Malcove, and the floral scrolls are more ornate than either of the other two Limoges pyxes. Both the British museum pyx and Metropolitan Museum of Art pyxes are made from the more conventional copper, while the Malcove pyx has bronze as its base metal. Nevertheless, all three Limoges pyxes, regardless of quality and imagery, can easily be identified of being produced under similar circumstances at a similar time.
The same can not be said for the third pyx at the bottom left, an ivory pyx from the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore. Although it originates in the same century as the Limoges pyxes, this pyx was made in Italy. It has a cylindrical body and flat lid, and is made out of carved ivory with metal fittings. Originally it would have been painted and gilded, although now most of that has worn away. The centre of the lid had a metal cone topped by a rock crystal to improve the function of the pyx. The most significant difference in this pyx is not country of origin or material, however, but it’s semi-secular creation. Although intended for Christian services, the pyx was made by a Muslim artist living in Italy.
It's clear that even within the same century, even the same location, there can be disparities in quality and form of pyxes. Despite the evident differences, however, the most basic function of each pyx remains unchanged- at heart, they are all secure boxes intended to hold the host, executed differently depending on the skill, preference, and background of the artist.