"The British Museum's medieval collections are world famous and include icons, pieces of European art, many with historic associations." "This book is the first illustrated guide to the highlights of this collection. It features a special seelction of 150 of the most important works of art, including the Lewis chessmen, the St Eustace head reliquary, the Dunstable Swan Jewel, the Royal Gold Cup and medieval court art from the palaces of Westminster and Clarendon, as well as a selection of lesser-known but equally impressive pieces." "These remarkable treasures are placed in their historical context through an exploration of such as devotional art and pilgrimage, royal patronage and the arts of love, leisure and feasting, to provide a visually stunning insight into the artistic production of this critical period in Western history."--BOOK JACKET.