Scene in a woman's bath house thumbnail 1
Scene in a woman's bath house thumbnail 2
+1
images
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Sculpture, Room 111, The Gilbert Bayes Gallery

Scene in a woman's bath house

Relief
ca. 1650 (made)
Artist/Maker
Kern, Leonhard (carver)
Place of origin
Germany (made)

Elephant and walrus ivory and whalebone are prepared for carving by removing the outer layer, known as the ‘husk’ or ‘cementum’ (see below). The tusk is then sawn into the appropriate shape for a figure or relief. The carver uses small knives, chisels, gouges and files, very similar to those used for wood carving. After polishing, ivory can be stained or partially painted or gilded.



Object details

Categories
Access_to_Images 2003
Sculpture
Reliefs
Object type
Relief
TitleScene in a woman's bath house (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Elephant ivory
Ivory
Brief description
Relief, ivory, Scene in a Woman's Bath House, school of Leonhard Kern, German, ca. 1650
Physical description
Nude female figures of bathers. In the foreground on the left, one female combs her hair, while on the right another bends to have her hair washed by a third whilst a child washes her legs. In the background, seated on a wall behind the four foreground figures, a woman holds the hand of a boy urinating. Near her a standing woman examines the head of a seated man, perhaps searching for fleas.
Dimensions
  • Height: 20cm
  • Width: 10cm
Credit line
Given by Dr W. L. Hildburgh FSA
Object history
Given by Dr W.L. Hildburgh F.S.A. in 1949; formerly on loan from Dr Hildburgh.
Production
The style of this relief is reminiscent of the work of Leonhard Kern (1588-1663), and it may have been carved by someone working in his circle.
Subjects depicted
Baths
Woman
Boy
Man
Summary
Elephant and walrus ivory and whalebone are prepared for carving by removing the outer layer, known as the ‘husk’ or ‘cementum’ (see below). The tusk is then sawn into the appropriate shape for a figure or relief. The carver uses small knives, chisels, gouges and files, very similar to those used for wood carving. After polishing, ivory can be stained or partially painted or gilded.

Bibliographic references
  • Theuerkauff, C. Addenda und Anmerkungen zum Katalog des Ausstellung Leonhard Kern (1588-1662), 22. X. 1988-15. 1. 1989 in Schwäbisch Hall. (Kataloge des Hällisch-Fränkischen Museums Schwäbisch Hall , band 2 Supplement). p. 58, fig. 24
  • Trusted, Majorie. ed. The Making of Sculpture: the Materials and Techniques of European Sculpture. London: V&A Publications, 2007, p. 120, pl. 219
  • Cf. Grünenwald, Elisabeth. Leonhard Kern: ein Bildhauer des Barock. Schwäbisch Hall, 1969, cat. no. 156
  • Cf. von Brita v. Götz-Mohr. Wissenschaftliche Kataloge : Nachantike kleinplastische Bildwerke. III. Die deutschsprachigen Länder. Melsungen, 1989, cat. 31, pp. 74-76
  • Trusted, Marjorie, Baroque & Later Ivories, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 2013, cat. no. 26
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
A.42-1949

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJanuary 13, 2004
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O89200/scene-in-a-womans-bath-relief-kern-leonhard/
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest