This is an ivory casket made in the late 10th century probably in the Lower Rhine area. The gilt metal mounts are of about the 12th century, but the hinges and lock are modern. This casket represents scenes from the Passion. On the front is the Last Supper; on the back, Christ before Herod and the Betrayal; on the ends, the Agony in the Garden and the Crucifixion; on the top, the Maries at the Sepulchre and the Harrowing of Hell. There are borders of acanthus foliage on each side.
The technique of gold inlay clearly looks back to Metz works of the third quarter of the ninth century and the style, although rougher and less undercut, also reveals a debt to late Carolingian prototypes.
The small size of the casket and its subject matter, with the Last Supper placed on the front, suggest that it was made as a eucharistic vessel to hold the unconsecrated host.
Physical description
Casket in ivory with scenes from the Passion. On the front is the Last Supper; on the back, Christ before Herod and the Betrayal; on the ends, the Agony in the Garden and the Crucifixion; on the top on the lid, the Maries at the Sepulchre and the Harrowing of Hell. There are borders of acanthus foliage on each side.
The five plaques are held together with small metal pins drilled through the borders into their adjoining edges. In addition to this the box is secured with gilt metal clasps with dragon heads, two on each side of each plaque and a further four joining the plaques to the base plate.
Place of Origin
Lower Rhine, Germany (probably, made)
Date
late 10th century (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Ivory, gilt metal mounts
Marks and inscriptions
There is an engraved sketch for the figure of St. Peter, from the Betrayal on the inside of the casket.
Dimensions
Height: 6.7 cm, Width: 9.2 cm, Depth: 6.3 cm
Object history note
From the Farrer Collection (Sale, Christie's, June 13th, 1866, No.579).
The technique of gold inlay clearly looks back to Metz works of the third quarter of the ninth century and the style, although rougher and less undercut, also reveals a debt to late Carolingian prototypes. This casket is linked to a plaque in the V&A with scenes from the Passion (Inv. no. 1-1872) and to a comb, now in the Domschatzkammer in Essen, all are supposedly from the same workshop. Very likely a provincial workshop, probably in the area of the Lower Rhine.
Historical context note
The small size of the casket and its subject matter, with the Last Supper placed on the front, suggest that it was made as a eucharistic vessel to hold the unconsecrated host.
Descriptive line
Casket, ivory with gilt metal mounts, Scenes from the Passion, probably Lower Rhine, late 10th century
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Inventory of Art Objects acquired in the Year 1866. Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol. 1. London : Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868., p. 16.
Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Carvings in Ivory. London: Pub. under the authority of the Board of Education, 1927-1929. I. p. 73.
Kunst und Kultur der Karolingerzeit. 1999. vol. II. cat. no. XI. 16. pp. 803-805. Catalogue of exhibition held Paderborn, 1999.
Cf. Elbern, Victor H. Das Sogenannte Passionsdiptychon im Essener Münsterschatz. In: Das Erste Jahrtausend. II. Düsseldorf, 1965. pp. 1080-.
Williamson, Paul. Medieval Ivory Carvings. Early Christian to Romanesque. London, V&A Publishing, Victoria and Albert Museum, 2010, pp. 224-229, cat.no. 56
Production Note
The gilt metal mounts are of about the 12th century, but the hinges and lock are modern.
Materials
Ivory; Gilt metal
Techniques
Gilding
Subjects depicted
Jesus Christ; Mary (Virgin Mary); Mary Magdalene (Saint); Herod Antipas
Categories
Containers; Sculpture; Religion; Christianity
Collection code
SCP
