Ivory was used all over Europe for religious works of art. It was often combined with precious metals and usually took the form of relief panels, for book covers, portable altars and caskets. An almost unbroken tradition of ivory carving extends from the Roman and Byzantine empires until the end of the 14th century. From about 1250, Paris became the centre of production for figures and reliefs intended for private devotion. This was originally probably from a book cover.
The form of the Christ in Majesty surrounded by the four evangelist symbols derives from prototypes such as the mid-ninth-century Tours Majestas pages, found in the Vivian Bible and other related manuscripts.
Physical description
Ivory panel. A youthful, beardless Christ is shown with cruciform nimbus and is seated in glory within an aureole composed of two overlapping circles bordered with acanthus leaves; a book in His left hand, His right hand raised in benediction; a cruciform nimbus encircling His head. Above are the angel St. Matthew with a book and the eagle of St. John holding a scroll in its claws; below, the lion of St. Mark and the ox of St. Luke, each with a book. The whole is enclosed in a border of acanthus leaves. The panel has been pierced with holes at the four corners, probably for attachment to a book-cover.
Place of Origin
Rhine (or Meuse valley, made)
Date
10th century (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Elephant ivory
Dimensions
Height: 18.9 cm, Width: 7.9 cm
Object history note
Given by A.W. Hearn in 1923.
Historical significance: The form of the Christ in Majesty surrounded by the four evangelist symbols derives from prototypes such as the mid-ninth-century Tours Majestas pages, found in the Vivian Bible and other related manuscripts. The rather heavy, thick-set figure of Christ and the idiosyncratic egg-and-acanthus border may be compared with these features on a plaque of the enthroned Christ in Berlin.
Descriptive line
Panel, ivory, Christ in Majesty, Rhine or Meuse Valley, probably 10th century
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Carvings in Ivory. London: Published under the Authority of the Board of Education, 1927-1929. Part II. p. 75.
Goldschmidt, A. Die Elfenbeinskulpturen aus der romanischen Zeit. XI. Bis XIII. Jahrhundert, (Elfenbeinskulpturen IV), Berlin, 1926 (reprinted, Berlin, 1975), cat.no. 310, pl. LXXIX
Williamson, Paul. Medieval Ivory Carvings. Early Christian to Romanesque. London, V&A Publishing, Victoria and Albert Museum, 2010, pp. 220, 1, cat.no. 54
Production Note
probably 10th century
Materials
Ivory
Subjects depicted
Acanthus; Book; Angel; Eagle; Jesus Christ; Winged lion; Winged ox
Categories
Sculpture; Religion; Christianity; Books; Plaques & Plaquettes
Collection code
SCP
