Relief, carved elephant ivory, depicting Christ in Majesty, a copy (forgery) of a German relief probably of late 11th century, Germany, probably 1850-75

Carved oblong ivory relief depicting Christ in Majesty. Christ, holding a cross in his right hand, is standing - or rather floating - under a pierced canopy surmounted by the Dove of the Holy Ghost. In the corners are the symbols of teh Evangelists.

Purchased from a Mr Scott, Peckham Grove, London, £20.
Bought as 'Byzantine, 11th century'. This is a reduced copy of a German walrus ivory relief, formerly in the Oettingen-Wallerstein collection in Maihingen. Several other copies exist. All of the copies reproduce the same error in the bottom left corner, where the Lion of St. Mark has been given the head of the Eagle of St John, which already appears at the top right. This is probably the result of using a plaster cast of the original as a model, where the head of the Lion has been obscured and appears to resemble an eagle. It seems likely that the carved copies were made in South Germany, both Frankfurt am Main and Würzburg have been suggested.

Copied from an original probably late 11th century relief in the collection of Count Wallerstein at Maihingen. Plaster casts of these were available from the middle of the 19th century.

probably 1850-75

This is a reduced copy of an original relief - probably of the late 11th century - formerly in the collection of Count Wallerstein at Maihingen.
Several other copies exist. All of the copies reproduce the same error in the bottom left corner, where the Lion of St. Mark has been given the head of the Eagle of St John, which already appears at the top right. This is probably the result of using a plaster cast of the original as a model, where the head of the Lion has been obscured and appears to resemble an eagle

426-1884