English summary: This publication puts, for the first time ever, the focus on the patens of 11th till 13th century. The innovative and diverse artistic design of the patens of this time attest to their-until now hardly ever noticed-position as one of the central cult objects of Christianity. What exactly is a paten? What does it look like, which function does it have? Together with the chalice, the paten is the most important object in the central moment of mass, the Eucharist. Even though both vasa sacra form an artistic as well as a functional unit, especially in the High Middle Ages, the paten can certainly be considered a work of art in its own right. Therefore, this publication not only examines the shape and materiality of the patens but also their pictorial design and function, taking into account the theological-liturgical texts and sources that were relevant in the High Middle Ages. A detailed examination is dedicated to the chalice ensemble from the Tyrolean monastery of Wilten, which can be considered an outstanding example of a theologically differentiated pictorial programme in this period. German description: In dieser Arbeit werden zum ersten Mal die Patenen des 11. bis 13. Jahrhunderts in den Fokus gestellt. Die innovative und vielfaltige kunstlerische Ausgestaltung der Patene in dieser Zeit zeugt von ihrer - bisher kaum beachteten - Stellung als eines der zentralen Kultobjekte des Christentums.