Joachim Henne was a renowned ivory carver, who worked in Denmark and Northern Germany. He produced this ivory during his time at the court of Copenhagen, and there are stylistic similarities between it and his mythological reliefs in Rosenborg.
The composition is derived from a print by the Netherlandish artist Crispijn van den Queborn (1604-1652) after Hendrik van Balen of Antwerp (1575-1632). An amber relief in the Museum's collection set into an amber and ivory altar is derived from the same source (inv. no. A.1-1950).
Physical description
Two shepherds (one in high relief on the left foreground, the other in low relief to the right of the ox and the ass) adore the Virgin and Child, along with three shepherdesses, one an older woman with a basket of eggs in the foreground, the other two standing in the background, one of these also carrying a basket and wearing a broad-brimmed hat. Angels hover above. St Joseph, having doffed his hat, sits on the right on a fallen classical column. A classical arch is visible in the left background, and two fluted classical columns are to be seen in the background. In the background through the arch the scene of the announcement to the shepherds is seen in low relief. The ivory is signed on the lower left, on a rock behind the leg of one of the shepherds: 'JH [elided] en/1675'.
Place of Origin
Germany (made)
Date
1675 (dated)
Artist/maker
Henne, Joachim, born 1630 (maker)
Materials and Techniques
Ivory
Marks and inscriptions
'JH [elided] en/1675'
Dimensions
Height: 26.35 cm, Width: 20.76 in
Object history note
Given by Dr. W. L. Hildburgh, F.S.A.
Historical significance: The composition is adapted from a print by Crispijn van den Queborn of The Hague after a work by the Flemish artist Hendrik van Balen (1575 - 1632). This is same engraved source as that used for the central relief on a large amber and ivory altar (A.1-1950).
Descriptive line
Relief, ivory, The Adoration of the Shepherds, by Joachim Henne (active 1663-1707), German, 1675
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Rasmussen, J. Joachim Henne. Jahrbuch der Hamburger Kunstsammlungen. XXIII, 1978. pp. 31, 55.
Theuerkauff, C., ed. Elfenbein, sammlung reiner winkler. vol. I, 1984. p. 62. no. 26.
Rohde, A. Der Elfenbeinschnitzer Joachim Henne. Der Cicerone. XVII. p. 489.
Cf. Volbach, W. F. Catalogue of ivories. 1928. pl. 75. no. J. 723.
Medallion dated 1663.
Exhibition History
Barockplastik in Norddeutschland (Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg 06/11/1977-15/11/1977)
Materials
Ivory
Subjects depicted
Mary (Virgin Mary); Clouds; Christ Child; Shepherds; Cherub; Ox; Ass
Categories
Sculpture; Christianity; Christmas; Reliefs
Collection code
SCP
