Relief, ivory, the Dormition of the Virgin, probably Balkan peninsula, probably 15th century

Circular relief carved on the one side with the Death (or Dormition) of the Virgin, on the other a foliated cross. The Virgin lies on her funeral bier, surrounded by six haloed figures, meant to represent the apostles. The seventh haloed figure, to the right of centre, has his hands covered in the manner of the usual figure of Christ. In front of her bier is the kneeling figure of Jephonias. The Virgin is also shown in clouds above, in half-length form and with arms in the orans position, about to enter Heaven. At the sides are the facades of buildings of basilical type with flanking bell towers. On the back is a foliated cross with a square of radiating lines behind.

This relief was acquired in Constantinople by A.L.B. (Leigh) Ashton. Bought from him in 1927 for £3.

Byzantine

This relief originally acquired in Constantinople is probably made in the fifteenth century. It represents the Dormition of the Virgin on one side and a foliated cross on the other side. It was formerly suggested to be Byzantine, but some elements of the present roundel, such as the form of the church buildings, suggest a non-Constantinopolitan origin, probably in the Balkan Peninsula. The roundel presumably served as an enkolpion, and the green staining on the outer edge indicates that it was mounted in a metal frame which probably had a suspension ring.

A.76-1927