the God of Love and a Couple
Mirror Case
ca. 1300-1320 (made)
ca. 1300-1320 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is an ivory mirror back, depicting the God of Love and a Couple, made in Paris, in about 1300-1320.
Ivory combs, together with mirror cases and gravoirs for parting the hair, formed an essential part of the trousse de toilette or étui (dressing case) of the typical wealthy lady or gentleman in the Gothic period.
Gothic ivory mirror backs survive in considerable numbers. The ivory cases themselves, usually between 8 and 14 cm in diameter, consisted of two paired ivory discs (described here as ‘mirror backs’), often with four crawling monsters or lions (or leaves) carved around the outer edge. These ornamental features would transform the circle into a square and make the opening of the case easier, although their vulnerability to breakage is now all too evident.
The majority of the ivory mirror cases and their leather boxes must have been purchased as expensive gifts, to be presented by the wealthy élite to their friends, family and lovers, and often as wedding presents. The subject matter of the mirror backs was almost exclusively secular. The God of Love appears regularly on ivory mirror backs, often pictured in the branches of a tree, like in the present piece.
Ivory combs, together with mirror cases and gravoirs for parting the hair, formed an essential part of the trousse de toilette or étui (dressing case) of the typical wealthy lady or gentleman in the Gothic period.
Gothic ivory mirror backs survive in considerable numbers. The ivory cases themselves, usually between 8 and 14 cm in diameter, consisted of two paired ivory discs (described here as ‘mirror backs’), often with four crawling monsters or lions (or leaves) carved around the outer edge. These ornamental features would transform the circle into a square and make the opening of the case easier, although their vulnerability to breakage is now all too evident.
The majority of the ivory mirror cases and their leather boxes must have been purchased as expensive gifts, to be presented by the wealthy élite to their friends, family and lovers, and often as wedding presents. The subject matter of the mirror backs was almost exclusively secular. The God of Love appears regularly on ivory mirror backs, often pictured in the branches of a tree, like in the present piece.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | the God of Love and a Couple (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Elephant ivory |
| Brief description | Mirror case, ivory, the God of Love and a Couple, France (Paris), ca. 1300-1320 |
| Physical description | The scene depicts the crowned God of Love, seated among the branches of a tree, with his legs crossed, holding two arrows which he points at two lovers standing below, to his right, a woman holding a chaplet, and to his left a gentleman holding a hawk. These are traditional symbols of amour courtois. The corner terminals of the ivory are formed by four crawling monsters with long ears and tails. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Object history | In the possession of John Webb, London, by 1862 (London 1862, cat. no. 137); purchased from Webb in 1867, for £35. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This is an ivory mirror back, depicting the God of Love and a Couple, made in Paris, in about 1300-1320. Ivory combs, together with mirror cases and gravoirs for parting the hair, formed an essential part of the trousse de toilette or étui (dressing case) of the typical wealthy lady or gentleman in the Gothic period. Gothic ivory mirror backs survive in considerable numbers. The ivory cases themselves, usually between 8 and 14 cm in diameter, consisted of two paired ivory discs (described here as ‘mirror backs’), often with four crawling monsters or lions (or leaves) carved around the outer edge. These ornamental features would transform the circle into a square and make the opening of the case easier, although their vulnerability to breakage is now all too evident. The majority of the ivory mirror cases and their leather boxes must have been purchased as expensive gifts, to be presented by the wealthy élite to their friends, family and lovers, and often as wedding presents. The subject matter of the mirror backs was almost exclusively secular. The God of Love appears regularly on ivory mirror backs, often pictured in the branches of a tree, like in the present piece. |
| Associated object | REPRO.1873-333 (Reproduction) |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 221-1867 |
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| Record created | April 26, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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