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Panel

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

Carved ivory panel depicting the Visitation and the Presentation in the Temple in two compartments; on the other side a floriated cross. It has been suggested that it served as an amulett to be rubbed by barren women.

The purpose of this plaque is difficult to trace, as there no traces of mounts, holes or hinges. There can be no doubt that the unusual and very localised wear, which has reduced the body of the Child Christ and the heads of the Virgin and Elisabeth in the Visitation to almost formless shape, is the result of continuous rubbing or kissing over a long period of time, so it is highly likely that the plaque was either mounted as an enkolpium or was loose, to be held i the hand.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Carved ivory
Brief description
Panel, carved ivory, depicting the Presentation in the Temple, Byzantine, 11th century
Physical description
Carved ivory panel depicting the Visitation and the Presentation in the Temple in two compartments; on the other side a floriated cross. The Visitation with Elisabeth embracing the Virgin, and the Presentation in the Temple, with the Virgin presenting the Infant Christ to Simeon, and Joseph and the prophetess Anna standing behind them. There are faint traces of a later inscription in ink above the scene of the Presentation. On the back is a tall cross with rosettes at the ends of the arms and two flowering acanthus shoots growing from it at the bottom.
Dimensions
  • Height: 11.4cm
  • Width: 5.6cm
Style
Object history
Purchased from J. and M.L. Tregaskis, London, in 1899.
Historical context
The purpose of this plaque is difficult to trace, as there no traces of mounts, holes or hinges. There can be no doubt that the unusual and very localised wear, which has reduced the body of the Child Christ and the heads of the Virgin and Elisabeth in the Visitation to almost formless shape, is the result of continuous rubbing or kissing over a long period of time, so it is highly likely that the plaque was either mounted as an enkolpium or was loose, to be held i the hand.
Subjects depicted
Summary
Carved ivory panel depicting the Visitation and the Presentation in the Temple in two compartments; on the other side a floriated cross. It has been suggested that it served as an amulett to be rubbed by barren women.

The purpose of this plaque is difficult to trace, as there no traces of mounts, holes or hinges. There can be no doubt that the unusual and very localised wear, which has reduced the body of the Child Christ and the heads of the Virgin and Elisabeth in the Visitation to almost formless shape, is the result of continuous rubbing or kissing over a long period of time, so it is highly likely that the plaque was either mounted as an enkolpium or was loose, to be held i the hand.
Bibliographic references
  • List of Objects in the Art Division South Kensington Museum acquired during the Year 1899. Arranged according to the dates of acquisition, with appendix and indices. London: Her Majesty's Stationary Office. Wyman and Sons. 1903. pp.270
  • Longhurst, Margaret, H. Catalogue of Carvings in Ivory. I. London: The Board of Education, 1929. pp.46
  • Cutler, A. The Hand of the Master: Craftsmanship, Ivory and Society in Byzantium 9th- 11th century. Princeton. 1994. pp.28-29.
  • Williamson, Paul. Medieval Ivory Carvings. Early Christian to Romanesque. London, V&A Publishing, Victoria and Albert Museum, 2010, pp. 125, 6, cat.no. 29
Collection
Accession number
1985-1899

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Record createdOctober 26, 2004
Record URL
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