This is a carved ivory panel with traces of colour made ca. 1170-80 half in Lower Rhine, Germany. Stylistically this plaque is related to works of art produced in the Lower Rhine area at that time.
The scenes on the relief are explained with reference to three Kings, where David, on his deathbed, is urged to select Solomon as his successor as king of Israel. The bearded and crowned David is shown in his bed in an open building on the right, gesturing as if to introduce the next scene, with Sadoc, Nathan and Banaias in attendance. The same three figures are clearly shown on the left, accompanying the young, beardless but crowned Solomon, who is riding David's mule.
The relief probably formed part of the decoration of a stool, a 'faldistorium', a folding stool or throne.
Physical description
Carved walrus ivory panel with traces of colour, depicting a king visiting another king. A king with three attendants on foot, rides from the left towards a low building in which, lying on a bed, is another king, who raises himself up as if to greet his visitor. Behind him are three more attendants.
The scenes on the relief are explained with reference to three Kings, where David, on his deathbed, is urged to select Solomon as his successor as king of Israel. The bearded and crowned David is shown in his bed in an open building on the right, gesturing as if to introduce the next scene, with Sadoc, Nathan and Banaias in attendance. The same three figures are clearly shown on the left, accompanying the young, beardless but crowned Solomon, who is riding David's mule. The back is entirely plain.
Place of Origin
Lower Rhine, Germany (probably, made)
Date
ca. 1170-80 (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Carved walrus ivory, formerly coloured
Dimensions
Height: 4.7 cm at left, Height: 5.1 cm at right, Length: 11.8 cm
Object history note
Purchased from Webb, £10.
The relief probably formed part of the decoration of a stool, a 'faldistorium', a folding stool or throne.
Historical significance: Stylistically this plaque is related to works of art produced in the Lower Rhine area towards the end of the 12th century
Descriptive line
Plaque, carved walrus ivory with traces of colour, depicting Two Scenes from the Story of David, Germany (Lower Rhine), ca. 1170-80
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Inventory of Art Objects acquired in the Year 1867. Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol. 1. London : Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868., p. 11.
Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Carvings in Ivory. London: Published under the Authority of the Board of Education, 1927-1929. Part I. p. 80.
Williamson, Paul. Medieval Ivory Carvings. Early Christian to Romanesque. London, V&A Publishing, Victoria and Albert Museum, 2010, pp. 286, 7, cat.no. 75
Materials
Ivory
Subjects depicted
David (King); Kings; Mule
Categories
Furniture; Royalty; Sculpture; Religion; Christianity; Plaques & Plaquettes
Collection code
SCP
