Relief, ivory, the Adoration of the Magi and the Presentation in the temple, probably Netherlandish, ca. 1450-1470

Ivory relief from the side of a casket.
On the left the Circumcision of Christ (incorrectly identified by Longhurst as the Presentation), and on the right the Adoration of the Magi. The Circumcision takes place on a brick altar covered with a tasselled cloth. The Virgin offers the Christ-Child, who spreads his hands wide at the moment of circumcision and looks back at his mother; the spreading of Christ's hands in this way is a prefiguration of the spilling of Christ's blood at the Crucifixion. In the background a female figure in a hat styled like a turban holds a wicker bird cage. Normally, this figure would be a maidservant, but the fact that she bears a halo suggests that she is being presented as the Prophetess Anna. In the Presentation of the Magi the Virgin sits on a throne-like wooden chair outside a barn. Joseph leans over a stake fence in the background. The youngest magus (Balthazar) holds a neflike object, and is fashionably dressed in a short, flaring surcoat and long, poulaine shoes. He wears a crucifix on a chain around his neck, and tucks his left hand into his waistband. The other standing magus (Melchior) turns back to speak to him, raising his right hand; he holds a covered cup in his left hand. This magus wears a full-length surcoat, belted at the waist, with a fur-lined cloak on top. The final magus (Caspar) kneels in front of the Virgin and Child, having removed his crown which is on the floor in front of him. He holds open a casket, from which Christ removes a coin; this is the gift of gold. Prominent about this magus's waist is a large purse hanging from his belt. In both scenes, the Virgin wears a diadem around her head. Haloes have rays within them. The background is densely cross-hatched.

Bequeathed by Mrs G. Cowell

In the collection of Mrs. Mary Margaret Elizabeth Cowell by 1923 (London 1923, cat. no. 160); she had acquired pieces as early as the 1880s (see cat. no. 77). Bequeathed to the Museum by Mrs Cowell in 1925.

Once believed to be North Italian (Milanese) or Flemish. Then also German.

This panel, made in about 1450-70, probably in the Netherlands, is from the side of a casket. It depicts the Circumcision of Christ and the Adoration of the Magi.
The Circumcision takes place on a brick altar covered with a tasselled cloth. The Virgin offers the Christ-Child, who spreads his hands wide at the moment of circumcision and looks back at his mother; the spreading of Christ's hands in this way is a prefiguration of the spilling of Christ's blood at the Crucifixion.
In the Presentation of the Magi the Virgin sits on a throne-like wooden chair outside a barn.
The costume of the younger magus is that of the mid-1450s and 1460s.

A.69-1925