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Not currently on display at the V&A

The Virgin and Child

Panel
first half of 14th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is an ivory tabernacle polyptych made in about 1250 in Northern France. The panel is carved in high relief representing the Virgin and Child seated under an architectural canopy. The term tabernacle polyptych has been used here (ref. Williamson and Davies) to describe an object which consists of a deep central chamber with canopy, usually containing the Virgin and Child, and four hinged wings with narrative scenes, which would distinguish them from the smaller category of simpler polyptychs, which are made up of a series of plaques hinged together but with no central tabernacle.
A feature that links most tabernacle polyptychs together is the method of facture: Although the Virgins in the tabernacles appear from the front to be statuettes they are with few exceptions carved integrally with the back and base panels, which is remarkably skilful.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Virgin and Child (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Ivory carved in high relief
Brief description
Panel, Centre panel of a plyptych, ivory, the Virgin and Child, Northern France, ca. 1250
Physical description
The Virgin and Child under a canopy. The Virgin is seated on a backless throne with mouldings at top and bottom at the sides; she wears a veil and a long mantle and holds the stem of a flower or staff in her right hand. She is shown in three-quarter view, turning towards the Christ Child who9m she holds at the back with her left hand. She blesses with her right hand and grasps the centre of his tunic. The figures are shown under a trefoil canopy with beaded moulding, embellished above with an arcaded architectural tableau resembling a church façade, with a central feature and flanking towers, and a tiled roof.
Dimensions
  • Height: 8.4cm
  • At base width: 5.1cm
Object history
In the possession of John Webb, London, by 1862 (London 1862, cat. no. 70); on loan to the Museum from 1867 and purchased from Webb in 1867 (£12).
Subjects depicted
Summary
This is an ivory tabernacle polyptych made in about 1250 in Northern France. The panel is carved in high relief representing the Virgin and Child seated under an architectural canopy. The term tabernacle polyptych has been used here (ref. Williamson and Davies) to describe an object which consists of a deep central chamber with canopy, usually containing the Virgin and Child, and four hinged wings with narrative scenes, which would distinguish them from the smaller category of simpler polyptychs, which are made up of a series of plaques hinged together but with no central tabernacle.
A feature that links most tabernacle polyptychs together is the method of facture: Although the Virgins in the tabernacles appear from the front to be statuettes they are with few exceptions carved integrally with the back and base panels, which is remarkably skilful.
Bibliographic references
  • List of Objects in the Art Division, South Kensington, Acquired During the Year 1871, Arranged According to the Dates of Acquisition. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., p. 32
  • Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Carvings in Ivory. London: Published under the Authority of the Board of Education, 1927-1929, Part II, p. 9
  • Natanson, Joseph. Gothic Ivories of the 13th and 14th Centuries. London: A. Tiranti, 1951, pp. 16, 32, pl. 13
  • Giusti, Paola. Una madonna in avorio nel Museo Duca di Martina : plastica minore e scultura monumentale nella Francia del XIII secolo. Bollettino d'Arte. 6. Ser. 67. 1982, 14. pp. 77-86, fig. 10
  • Maskell, W., A Description of the Ivories Ancient and Medieval in the South Kensington Museum, London, 1872 p. 140
  • Koechlin, R., Les Ivoires gothiques français, 3 vols, Paris, 1924 (reprinted Paris 1968) Vol. I, p. 65; Vol. II, cat. no. 31
  • Williamson, Paul and Davies, Glyn, Medieval Ivory Carvings, 1200-1550, (in 2 parts), V&A Publishing, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 2014 part 1, pp. 138-139
  • Williamson, Paul and Davies, Glyn, Medieval Ivory Carvings, 1200-1550, (in 2 parts), V&A Publishing, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 2014, part 1, pp. 138-139, cat. no. 42
Collection
Accession number
382-1871

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Record createdSeptember 9, 2008
Record URL
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