Tablet or half of a book cover, ivory, Christ and other figures, Germany, ca. 1550-1600

Cover of a book or writing tablet. Christ seated on the right, accepts a cup from a standing figure in trunk hose and slashed sleeves; behind stand a man and a woman, the woman carrying a flagon; above are the words 'De disti mihi bibere'. The subject is enclosed in a medallion, above and below which are two female allegorical figures, one representing Faith, holding a cross, and the other Prudence, holding a mirror. In the corners are four cherubim, and two illusionistic hinges are carved in ivory on the left side. On the back are two pendant profile busts of a man and a woman dressed in 16th century costume with an arabesque border of columns and four dragons' heads.

Bought for £1 10s. in London in 1854 (vendor unrecorded); said to have been formerly in the collection of the Duke of Buckingham.

This half of a book cover (or cover of a set of writng tablets?) is carved in ivory by an unknown artist in Germany, ca 1550-1600.

It shows Christ seated taking a cup from the foremost of three figures. The subject in enclosed in a circle, above and below which are allegorical figures. On the back are two pendant busts of a man and a woman in a border of arabesque.
The style of carving implies this piece dates from the second half of the sixteenth century, and is likely to be German.

620-1854