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

Casket

11th century to 12th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This ivory casket is carved with panels depicting mounted and kneeling warriors, huntsmen, centaurs, sphinxes and Eve, parts of the borders are carved with rosettes and rinceaux. Other parts of the casket such as the bands containing an imperial bust and pairs of lovers are Italian work dating from the nineteenth century.

It is Byzantine (Constantinople), from the 11th or 12th century in a 19th century ensemble.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Ivory and bone plaques with bone strips on a wood core
Brief description
Casket, ivory and bone, Byzantine (Constantinople), 11th or 12th century in a 19th century ensemble
Physical description
Ivory and bone casket. The central panels carved with mounted and kneeling warriors, huntsmen, centaurs, sphinxes, and Eve; parts of the borders carved with rosettes and rinceaux.
Dimensions
  • Height: 19.3cm
  • At base length: 26cm
  • At top of lid length: 21.6cm
  • At base width: 19.5cm
  • At top of lid width: 14cm
Object history
Purchased from Mr T. Cottrell-Dormer, in whose family collection it has been 'for over a hundred years'
Production
Byzantine, 11th or 12th century in a 19th century ensemble
Subjects depicted
Summary
This ivory casket is carved with panels depicting mounted and kneeling warriors, huntsmen, centaurs, sphinxes and Eve, parts of the borders are carved with rosettes and rinceaux. Other parts of the casket such as the bands containing an imperial bust and pairs of lovers are Italian work dating from the nineteenth century.

It is Byzantine (Constantinople), from the 11th or 12th century in a 19th century ensemble.
Bibliographic references
  • Beckwith, J. 'Problemes posés par certaines sculptures sur ivoire du haut mayen âge' Les monuments historiques de la France 1-2, 1966, p.17ff
  • Williamson, Paul. Medieval Ivory Carvings. Early Christian to Romanesque. London, V&A Publishing, Victoria and Albert Museum, 2010, pp. 94-99, cat.no. 19
Collection
Accession number
A.8-1937

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Record createdJanuary 12, 2004
Record URL
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