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

Panel

ca. 1170-1180 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

During the period, ivories were produced all over Europe, often in monasteries and ecclesiastical or royal courts. The pieces in this drawer were used for liturgical purposes. Ivory carvings appeared on book covers, reliquary caskets, antependia (the panel in front of an altar) and religious icons.
The panel originally formed the back of a small casket. Holes at the top indicate the position of the hinges, and further holes at the bottom held metal pins to secure the base plate with mounts.
The figure style relates most closely to Lower-Rhenish carvings: The beasts on the panel may be compared with those on tablemen from Cologne of the second half of the 12th century.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Carved walrus ivory
Brief description
Panel from a box, walrus ivory, decorated with animals and foliage, probably Lower-Rhenish, ca.1170-1180
Physical description
Panel from the side of a box in walrus ivory. In the centre is a pillar-like stem from which spring curving branches enclosing two scrolls on each side; the central pair are filled with dog-like quadruped, confronted, the outer pair with long-legged birds looking backwards. Holes for the hinges or mounts may be seen at the top and bottom. The whole composition is framed by a narrow lined border. The panel is a dark brown colour, front and back, and is slightly bowed.
Dimensions
  • Height: 3.5cm
  • Length: 13.8cm
Object history
Purchased from F. Duda, Prague, in 1911, £20.

Historical significance: The figure style relates most closely to Lower-Rhenish carvings: The beasts on the panel may be compared with those on tablemen from Cologne of the second half of the 12th century.
Historical context
The panel originally formed the back of a small casket. Holes at the top indicate the position of the hinges, and further holes at the bottom held metal pins to secure the base plate with mounts.
Subjects depicted
Summary
During the period, ivories were produced all over Europe, often in monasteries and ecclesiastical or royal courts. The pieces in this drawer were used for liturgical purposes. Ivory carvings appeared on book covers, reliquary caskets, antependia (the panel in front of an altar) and religious icons.
The panel originally formed the back of a small casket. Holes at the top indicate the position of the hinges, and further holes at the bottom held metal pins to secure the base plate with mounts.
The figure style relates most closely to Lower-Rhenish carvings: The beasts on the panel may be compared with those on tablemen from Cologne of the second half of the 12th century.
Bibliographic references
  • Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Carvings in Ivory. Part I. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1927, p. 80
  • Williamson, Paul. Medieval Ivory Carvings. Early Christian to Romanesque. London, V&A Publishing, Victoria and Albert Museum, 2010, pp. 284, 5, cat.no. 74
Collection
Accession number
A.1-1911

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Record createdJanuary 7, 2004
Record URL
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