Hunting party
Mirrorback
ca. 1300-1320 (made)
ca. 1300-1320 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is an ivory mirrorback made in Paris in about 1300-1320, representing a hunting party with a lady and her lover riding together. 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.
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 | Hunting party (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Elephant ivory |
| Brief description | Mirrorback, ivory, a hunting party, French (Paris), ca. 1300-1320 |
| Physical description | A circular ivory mirror case depicting a hunting party. A lady, wearing a veil and wimple, and her lover ride together in the woods. She holds a falcon in her gloved left hand and turns towards her lover, her right hand on his shoulder, and he kisses her on the lips, cradling her chin in his right hand. He wears a hooded and belted surcoat and has a dagger and sword (only the pommel visible) at his waist. In front is a servant in a peaked hat leading the way and looking back over his shoulder towards the mounted couple. On the rim are four crawling monsters. The back has a double stepped rim with a bevelled edge and a recessed cut at the bottom to receive the tongue of the associated disc, now lost. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Object history | Formerly in the Prince Petr Soltikoff Collection, Paris, until 1861; Soltikoff sale (1861, No. 356, bought Jacob). In the possession of John Webb, London, by 1862 (London 1862, cat. no. 135); purchased from Webb in 1867, for £48. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This is an ivory mirrorback made in Paris in about 1300-1320, representing a hunting party with a lady and her lover riding together. 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 | 219-1867 |
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| Record created | December 29, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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