Portable altar, forgery in the style of the Metz School of the 9th to 10th century, with ivory reliefs depicting scenes of the New Testament, France (Paris), mid 19th century

Portable altar, made up of small ivory reliefs carved with scenes from the New Testament. On the one long side, the Annunciation, the Nativity and the Presentation in the Temple (running in reverse narrative order); on the other the Transfiguration, Christ healing the Leper and the Blind Man. On the ends are two panels each containing two unidentifiable figures. The panels are framed by borders of conventional leaf ornament. The carvings have been a good deal damaged and the panels remounted at a later date to form a box with a sliding side. Portions of the borders are probably of the later date and possibly the metal base.

Purchased for £240 at Sotherby's 11/12/1931 from a collection in Germany. Describe din the catalogue as 'the property of a Scientific Society'; this appears to have been the Hessisches Landesmuseum, Darmstadt.
After acquiring the 'portable altar', and believing the ivory plaques to be Metz school of the 10th cenutry, Margaret Longhurst wrote to Adolph Goldschmidt in Berlin asking for his views. He revealed to her the fake ( for letter see: Williamson, 2010, p. 441).

a forgery of the mid 19th century, bought as 9th century to 10th century, Metz School

This object was acquired as a portable altarpiece dating from the 9th or 10th century, Metz School. However after the purchase it got soon clear that the casket is not genuine.
It is made up of a number of small ivory reliefs carved with scenes from the New Testament. On the one long side is The Annunciation, The Nativity, The Presentation and Christ healing the leper and the blind man. The panels are framed with borders of conventional leaf ornament.

A.48-1931