Triptych
1470-1500 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This tryptich of carved ivory is by an unknown artist made in France in about 1470-1500. Later thought to be a forgery of the 19th century, radiocarbon testing in 2009 again put it firmly to a period of the late 15th century.
A fact that is also suggested by the figure style of the angels - especially their head-types - and the wholsale decorative use of the fleur-de-lis, so ubiquitous at that time, not just for royal books.
The Gothic Triptych was to all intents and purposes a sub-branch of the tabernacle polyptych, with a shallower central panel and two, rather than four, hinged wings. The subject matter was the same, dominated by single images of the standing Virgin and Child and scenes from the infancy of Christ. Triptychs – like diptychs – are better suited to the needs of a travelling clientele, who would wish to take these small portable altars with them as aids to prayer. Some of them were intended to be carried in cases, usually of cuir bouilli (boiled leather).
A fact that is also suggested by the figure style of the angels - especially their head-types - and the wholsale decorative use of the fleur-de-lis, so ubiquitous at that time, not just for royal books.
The Gothic Triptych was to all intents and purposes a sub-branch of the tabernacle polyptych, with a shallower central panel and two, rather than four, hinged wings. The subject matter was the same, dominated by single images of the standing Virgin and Child and scenes from the infancy of Christ. Triptychs – like diptychs – are better suited to the needs of a travelling clientele, who would wish to take these small portable altars with them as aids to prayer. Some of them were intended to be carried in cases, usually of cuir bouilli (boiled leather).
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Carved elephant ivory |
| Brief description | Monstrance-Triptych, carved ivory, with a circular opening for a reliquary, France, probably about 1470-1500 |
| Physical description | In the centre two standing angels, dressed in dalmatics over albs and with narrow fillets on their heads, below a trefoil ogee arch with floriated cusps; they stand on a rocky ground and hold a large disc, recessed from the back, which is now open. The background and the wings are diapered with fleur-de-lis decoration. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | In the possession of John Webb, London, by 1850; purchased from Webb in 1857, for £20. |
| Historical context | Originally thought to be French, ca. 1480, the combination of the form of a 14th century ivory triptych with the function of a reliquary makes no sense in terms of medieval liturgical practices. Its late date is confirmed by the fleur-de-lis decoration and the style of the angels. Then later to be thought not genuine and from the 19th century. It was again subjected to radiocarbon testing, which established again a date between 1447 and 1631, with an emphasis on the second half of the 15th century. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This tryptich of carved ivory is by an unknown artist made in France in about 1470-1500. Later thought to be a forgery of the 19th century, radiocarbon testing in 2009 again put it firmly to a period of the late 15th century. A fact that is also suggested by the figure style of the angels - especially their head-types - and the wholsale decorative use of the fleur-de-lis, so ubiquitous at that time, not just for royal books. The Gothic Triptych was to all intents and purposes a sub-branch of the tabernacle polyptych, with a shallower central panel and two, rather than four, hinged wings. The subject matter was the same, dominated by single images of the standing Virgin and Child and scenes from the infancy of Christ. Triptychs – like diptychs – are better suited to the needs of a travelling clientele, who would wish to take these small portable altars with them as aids to prayer. Some of them were intended to be carried in cases, usually of cuir bouilli (boiled leather). |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 4336-1857 |
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| Record created | August 26, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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