Four Pairs of Lovers
Mirror Back
ca. 1320-1330 (made)
ca. 1320-1330 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is an ivory mirror back, made in Paris in about 1320-1330. It depicts four pairs of lovers divided by a tree and its branches.
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.
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.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Four Pairs of Lovers (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Elephant ivory |
| Brief description | Mirror back, ivory, Four Pairs of Lovers, France (Paris), ca. 1320-1330 |
| Physical description | The piece is divided by the stem and branches of a tree into four compartments, with two further smaller trees at the sides. A couple is shown in each compartment: at the top left a young man, holding his gloves in his right hand, appears to take a crown from the lady; at the top right a man moves to embrace his lover, caressing her chin with his right hand; at the bottom right the kneeling gentleman is crowned by the lady; and at the bottom left the man steps out with the lady, a falcon on his right hand. The lady at top right and bottom left is shown with her hair in buns, as opposed to the flowing locks in the other two compartments. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | In the collection of Albert Denison, Baron Londesborough (1805-60), by 1857; Acquired from the Londesborough Collection for 31l 10s (Sale, Christie's July 10th 1888, no. 753). |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This is an ivory mirror back, made in Paris in about 1320-1330. It depicts four pairs of lovers divided by a tree and its branches. 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. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1400-1888 |
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| Record created | October 6, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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