Tablet. carved ivory

This half of a book cover (or cover of a set of writng tablets?) is carved in ivory by an unknown artist in Germany in the late 16th century.

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.

Physical description

Cover of a book or writing tablet. Christ seated taking a cup from the foremost of three figures; behind stand a man and a woman, the woman carrying a flagon; above a re the words 'De disti mihi bibere'. 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.

Place of Origin

Germany (made)

Date

late 16th century (made)

Artist/maker

unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Carved ivory

Marks and inscriptions

'De disti mihi bibere'.

Dimensions

Height: 9.84 cm, Width: 6.35 cm

Descriptive line

Tablet or half of a book cover, ivory, Germany, late 16th century

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1854. In: Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, Arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol I. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868, p. 15.

Exhibition History

"Kunst und Kunstindustrie-Ausstellung alter und neuer deutscher Meister" (Glaspalast 01/01/1876-31/12/1876)

Materials

Ivory

Techniques

Carving

Subjects depicted

Men; Figures; Women; Arabesques; Busts; Christ Child; Allegorical figures; Flagon

Collection code

SCP

Please complete the form to email this item.

Explore related objects

Category

Material

Subject

Technique

Name

Place

Exhibition

Collection