The Virgin and Child thumbnail 1
The Virgin and Child thumbnail 2
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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Sculpture, Room 111, The Gilbert Bayes Gallery

The Virgin and Child

Polyptych
ca. 1300 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is a ivory tabernacle polyptych probably made in Northern France in about 1300. The polyptych represents the Virgin and Child, the Coronation of the Virgin and the scenes from the infancy of Christ. The term tabernacle polyptych has been used here (ref. Williamson and Davies) to describe an object which consists of a deep central chamber with canopy, usually containing the Virgin and Child, and four hinged wings with narrative scenes, which would distinguish them from the smaller category of simpler polyptychs, which are made up of a series of plaques hinged together but with no central tabernacle.
A feature that links most tabernacle polyptychs together is the method of facture: Although the Virgins in the tabernacles appear from the front to be statuettes they are with few exceptions carved integrally with the back and base panels, which is remarkably skilful.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Virgin and Child (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Carved ivory
Brief description
Polyptych, carved ivory, the Virgin and Child, the Coronation of the Virgin and the life of Christ, probably Northern France, ca. 1300
Physical description
Carved ivory shrine, a centre piece with two folding shutters on each side. The central section is divided in two. Below, the standing Virgin holds a flower in her right hand and the Christ-Child in her left; he is dressed in a long tunic, holds an apple in his left hand and rests his right on the Virgin's chest. The Virgin and Child are flanked by standing angels holding candlesticks. Above is the Glorfication of the Virgin, an angel flying down from clouds to crown the Virgin (the crown and the angel's forearms now missing).
On the wings are scenes from the infancy of Christ: the Annunciation, the Visitation the Nativity, the Adoration of the Magi, and the Presentation in the Temple.
Dimensions
  • Height: 24.5cm
  • Open width: 21.5cm
Object history
In the collection of Anton Josef Essingh (1787-1864), Cologne; purchased by John Webb, London, at the Essingh sale, J.M. Heberlé (H. Lempertz), Cologne, 18 September 1865, lot 861, pl. 5); on loan to the Museum from 1867 and purchased from Webb in 1872 (£225).
Subjects depicted
Summary
This is a ivory tabernacle polyptych probably made in Northern France in about 1300. The polyptych represents the Virgin and Child, the Coronation of the Virgin and the scenes from the infancy of Christ. The term tabernacle polyptych has been used here (ref. Williamson and Davies) to describe an object which consists of a deep central chamber with canopy, usually containing the Virgin and Child, and four hinged wings with narrative scenes, which would distinguish them from the smaller category of simpler polyptychs, which are made up of a series of plaques hinged together but with no central tabernacle.
A feature that links most tabernacle polyptychs together is the method of facture: Although the Virgins in the tabernacles appear from the front to be statuettes they are with few exceptions carved integrally with the back and base panels, which is remarkably skilful.
Bibliographic references
  • List of Objects in the Art Division, South Kensington, Acquired During the Year 1872, Arranged According to the Dates of Acquisition. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., p. 1
  • Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Carvings in Ivory. London: Published under the Authority of the Board of Education, 1927-1929, Part II, p. 14
  • Cf. Förster, Otto H. Kölner Kunstsammler. Berlin: de Gruyter, 1931, pp. 125-126, fig. 72
  • Williamson, Paul and Davies, Glyn, Medieval Ivory Carvings, 1200-1550, (in 2 parts), V&A Publishing, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 2014 part 1, pp. 154-156
  • Maskell, W., A Description of the Ivories Ancient and Medieval in the South Kensington Museum, London, 1872 pp. 144-145
  • Koechlin, R., Les Ivoires gothiques français, 3 vols, Paris, 1924 (reprinted Paris 1968) I, pp. 130, 131-32, II, cat. no. 171, 111, pl. XLII
  • Marguerite, Marie-Lys and Dectot, Xavier, ed. by, D'Or et D'Ivoire, Paris, Pise, Florence, Sienne, 1250-1320, Snooeck and Louvre Lens, 2015, exh. cat., pp. 210-213, 255
  • Williamson, Paul and Davies, Glyn, Medieval Ivory Carvings, 1200-1550, (in 2 parts), V&A Publishing, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 2014, part 1, pp. 154-156, cat. no. 47
Collection
Accession number
6-1872

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Record createdSeptember 12, 2008
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