The Attack on the Castle of Love
Comb
ca. 1400 (carved)
ca. 1400 (carved)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This ivory comb, was made in about 1400 in Italy (probably Venice) and depicts on one side the attack on the Castle of Love and on the other some love scenes.
The comb has since the Antiquity been a fundamental tool for personal grooming, used both by men and women. In the Gothic period ivory was often employed for the production of deluxe decorated combs. The Gothic comb is always carved on both faces and consists of two registers of teeth, one fine, the other broader, above and below the narrative strips.
Ivory combs, together with mirror cases and gravoirs for parting the hair, formed an essential part of the trousse de toilette or étui (dressing case) of the typical wealthy lady or gentleman in the Gothic period. Considering the original ubiquity of such combs and in comparison with ivory mirror cases, a surprisingly small number survive from the fourteenth century.
The comb has since the Antiquity been a fundamental tool for personal grooming, used both by men and women. In the Gothic period ivory was often employed for the production of deluxe decorated combs. The Gothic comb is always carved on both faces and consists of two registers of teeth, one fine, the other broader, above and below the narrative strips.
Ivory combs, together with mirror cases and gravoirs for parting the hair, formed an essential part of the trousse de toilette or étui (dressing case) of the typical wealthy lady or gentleman in the Gothic period. Considering the original ubiquity of such combs and in comparison with ivory mirror cases, a surprisingly small number survive from the fourteenth century.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The Attack on the Castle of Love (popular title) |
| Materials and techniques | Elephant ivory |
| Brief description | Comb, ivory, an attack on the Castle of Love and Love Scenes, Italy (probably Venice), about 1400 |
| Physical description | Ivory comb depicting on one face an attack on the Castle of Love, and on the other the Victor kneeling before a lady. Four assailants, one of whom has fallen to the ground or is crawling on all fours to avoid being struck, surround the building, which is defended by two young men with shields and spears; a lion guards the entrance below. At the left a lady and gentleman observe the activities. On the other face, at the centre, a young man with a dog (a symbol of fidelity) kneels before a lady who is being shot with the arrow of love by a flying cupid. On the left are two ladies holding hands, on pointing towards the cupid; and two men holding hands, one pointing towards the cupid; and two men holding hands with a lady who approach from the right. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | In the collection of Louis-Fidel Debruge-Duménil (1788-1838) and heirs, Paris, until 1850; Debruge-Duménil sale, Paris, 12 March 1850, lot 1516; collection of Prince Petr Soltykoff, Paris, until 1861; bought by John Webb, London, at the Soltykoff sale (Soltykoff 1861, lot 365; bought Jacob); in the possession of John Webb (London, by 1862, cat. no. 146); purchased from Webb in 1867 for £32. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This ivory comb, was made in about 1400 in Italy (probably Venice) and depicts on one side the attack on the Castle of Love and on the other some love scenes. The comb has since the Antiquity been a fundamental tool for personal grooming, used both by men and women. In the Gothic period ivory was often employed for the production of deluxe decorated combs. The Gothic comb is always carved on both faces and consists of two registers of teeth, one fine, the other broader, above and below the narrative strips. Ivory combs, together with mirror cases and gravoirs for parting the hair, formed an essential part of the trousse de toilette or étui (dressing case) of the typical wealthy lady or gentleman in the Gothic period. Considering the original ubiquity of such combs and in comparison with ivory mirror cases, a surprisingly small number survive from the fourteenth century. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 229-1867 |
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| Record created | February 25, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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