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The Nativity and the Adoration of the Magi

Panel
ca. 800 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is one three ivory panels which appear to copy early Christian models, perhaps of the 5th century. The narrative takes place as an integrated sequence, rather than separating events out. Thus the wise men following the star, the Nativity and the Adoration of the Magi are shown in one.

The panel is from a casket (known as the Werden Casket) probably made about 800 in the Lower Rhine area, possibly Werden. The date and origin of these palquettes have been the subject of considerable scholarly debate, with the majority of authorities devided between an Early Christian and Carolingan origin.
This and the two other ivory panels from the Abbey of Werden in the V&A collection depict a mixture of scenes from Biblical and Apocryphal stories. They have been linked stylistically to a book-cover in the treasury of Milan Cathedral and other surviving panels and pyxides. The scenes of the Annunciation, the Magi seeing the Star, the Nativity and the Adoration of the Magi closely resemble the Milan book covers.
Other panels which are thought to belong to the same group can be found in the Berlin, Toulouse and Nevers museums and also possibly a panel in the British Museum representing Christ disputing with the Doctors. Three pyxides, one still at Werden, one in the museum at Rouen and the third in Florence have also been identified as belonging to the same group.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • The Nativity and the Adoration of the Magi (generic title)
  • Panel from the Werden Casket (popular title)
Materials and techniques
Carved ivory
Brief description
Panel from a casket (known as the Werden Casket), carved ivory, depicting scenes including the Nativity and the Adoration, probably Lower Rhine (probably Werden), probably Carolingian, probably ca. 800
Physical description
One of three panels from an ivory casket (known as the Werden Casket), carved ivory with a narrow border of leaf ornament. This panel depicts scenes including the Magi seeing the Star; the Nativity with the manger in an open shed; and the Adoration of the Magi. Chipped and cracked, and pierced with several holes.
Dimensions
  • At left height: 4.5cm
  • Length: 25.1cm
  • Depth: 0.7cm
  • Weight: 0.1kg
  • Width: 15.5cm
Measured for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries
Style
Object history
Formerly in the Abbey of Werden, Westphalia, Germany. Purchased by the museum in 1866, from the Webb Collection.
Historical context
This and the two other ivory panels from the Abbey of Werden in the V&A collection depict a mixture of scenes from Biblical and Apocryphal stories. They have been linked stylistically to a book-cover in the treasury of Milan Cathedral and other surviving panels and pyxides. The panels which are thought to belong to the same group can be found in the Berlin, Toulouse and Nevers museums and also possibly includes a panel in the British Museum representing Christ disputing with the Doctors. Three pyxides, one still at Werden, one in the museum at Rouen and the third in Florence have also been identified as belonging to the same group.

The Magi Seeing the Star : Only Matthew mentions the Magi in his Gospel 2:1.When Jesus therefore was born in Bethlehem of Juda, in the days of king Herod, behold, there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem, Saying: Where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and are come to adore him.
The Gospel narrative omits to mention the number of the Magi, and there is no certain tradition in this matter. Some of the Church Fathers wrote of three Magi; they are very likely influenced by the number of gifts. In the Orient, tradition favours twelve. Early Christian art is no consistent witness: a painting in the cemetery of Sts. Peter and Marcellinus shows two; one in the Lateran Museum, three; one in the cemetery of Domitilla, four; a vase in the Kircher Museum, eight (Marucchi, "Eléments d'archéologie chrétienne", Paris, 1899, I 197). On the present relief three Magi are shown apparently agitated by the star above them

The Nativity: The panel shows Christ on a crib, beneath a shed-like roof. He is attended by Mary and Joseph an ox and an ass. Only Matthew and Luke describe the nativity, that in the middle-ages was much embelished upon. The presence of ox and ass is due to a misinterpretation of Isaias i:3 and Habacuc 3:2 ("Itala" version), they appear earlier than the prsent relief in the unique fourth-century "Nativity" discovered in the St. Sebastian catacombs in 1877.

The Adoration of the MagiThe Virgin and Child are depicted enthroned, three Magi present their gifts on oval trays or dishes. The earliest surviving depictions occur in Fourth-century paintings in Roman catacombs and in Byzantine mosaics.

It is obvious that the panels formed part of a flat, shallow casket with a sliding lid. A second short panel - now missing - would probably have shown the Journey to Bethlehem, and the lid was perhaps carved with a Christ in Majesty.
The eastern or western origin of this panel has been much debated. The architecture depicted on panel 149-1866 may be an indication of oriental origin: the facade flanked by two towers is a style of architecture associated with the Christian East. The shed-like roof over the nativity scene on the present panel is a more western feature. Dalton concludes that the precise localisation of the ivories can only be conjectural.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This is one three ivory panels which appear to copy early Christian models, perhaps of the 5th century. The narrative takes place as an integrated sequence, rather than separating events out. Thus the wise men following the star, the Nativity and the Adoration of the Magi are shown in one.

The panel is from a casket (known as the Werden Casket) probably made about 800 in the Lower Rhine area, possibly Werden. The date and origin of these palquettes have been the subject of considerable scholarly debate, with the majority of authorities devided between an Early Christian and Carolingan origin.
This and the two other ivory panels from the Abbey of Werden in the V&A collection depict a mixture of scenes from Biblical and Apocryphal stories. They have been linked stylistically to a book-cover in the treasury of Milan Cathedral and other surviving panels and pyxides. The scenes of the Annunciation, the Magi seeing the Star, the Nativity and the Adoration of the Magi closely resemble the Milan book covers.
Other panels which are thought to belong to the same group can be found in the Berlin, Toulouse and Nevers museums and also possibly a panel in the British Museum representing Christ disputing with the Doctors. Three pyxides, one still at Werden, one in the museum at Rouen and the third in Florence have also been identified as belonging to the same group.
Associated objects
Bibliographic references
  • Beckwith , J. The Werden casket Reconsidered (Art Bullesin XL, 1958), pp. 98-102
  • Lafontaine-Dosogne, J. Iconographie de la Vierge dans l'empire Byzantin et en Occident (Bruxelles : Académie royale de Belgique, 1992), Volume 1, p. 36
  • Ribbert, M. Untersuchungen zu den Elfenbeinarbeiten der älteren Metzer Gruppe (Witterschlick/Bonn : Verlag M. Wehle,1992 ), p. 43; note 77; p.249
  • Dalton, O. M. (Ormonde Maddock) Byzantine art and archaeology (Oxford, Clarendon press, 1911), p. 202
  • Baldwin-Smith Early Christian iconography and A school of ivory carvers in Provence (Princeton University Press), p. 221
  • Strzygowski, Josef Kleinasien, ein Neuland der Kunstgeschichte, Kirchenaufnahmen von J.W. Crowfoot und J.I. Smirnov unter Benutzung einiger Ergebnisse der Expedition nach der asiatischen Türkei des Kais. Legationsrates Dr. Max Freiherrn von Oppenheim, der Isaurischen Expedition der Gesellschaft zur Förderung Deutscher Wissenschaft, Kunst und Literatur in Böhmen, Beiträgen von Bruno Keil, Otto Puchstein, Adolf Wilhelm u.a.; bearb. von Josef Strzygowski, mit 162 Abbildungen. (Leipzig, J.C. Hinrichs, 1903), p. 198
  • Inventory of Art Objects acquired in the Year 1866. Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol. 1. London : Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868, p. 17
  • Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Carvings in Ivory. London: Pub. under the authority of the Board of Education, 1927-1929, Part I, pp. 31-32
  • Ribbert, Margret. Untersuchungen zu den Elfenbeinarbeiten der älteren Metzer Gruppe. Witterschlick/Bonn: Verlag M. Wehle, 1992, pp. 43, 249
  • Volbach, Wolfgang Fritz. Elfenbeinarbeiten der Spätantike und des frühen Mittelalters. Mainz am Rhein: Von Zabern, 1976, n. 118
  • Volbach, Wolfgang Fritz. Avori di scuola ravennate nel V e VI secolo. Ravenna: London, 1977, pp. 16, 18, 23, 29, 30, 33
  • Williamson, Paul. Medieval Ivory Carvings. Early Christian to Romanesque. London, V&A Publishing, Victoria and Albert Museum, 2010, pp. 156-158 , cat. no. 38
Collection
Accession number
149A-1866

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Record createdFebruary 11, 2004
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