The Virgin and Child between St. John the Evangelist and St. Catherine
Relief
second half 15th century (made)
second half 15th century (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This is a bone relief made in the second half of the 15th century in Germany, possibly the Rhenish area. It is carved with the Virgin and Child between St. John the Evangelist and St. Catherine.
The relief was originally in the form of a circular medallion with a pierced background, the upper half of the border having broken off. It must originally have been within a frame and would have served as a pendant. The use of bone rather than ivory and a copper-alloy rather than silver frame, indicates that the medallion was not intended for the élite market.
This miniature ivory reliefs should be viewed in the same light as their kleinplastik counterparts in precious metals and enamel. And the later pieces, from the second half of the fifteenth to the early sixteenth century, are also often comparable to works in other materials, such as the more numerous mother-of-pearl roundels. Both drew on the same graphic sources and brought sacred images into the possession of the pious.
The relief was originally in the form of a circular medallion with a pierced background, the upper half of the border having broken off. It must originally have been within a frame and would have served as a pendant. The use of bone rather than ivory and a copper-alloy rather than silver frame, indicates that the medallion was not intended for the élite market.
This miniature ivory reliefs should be viewed in the same light as their kleinplastik counterparts in precious metals and enamel. And the later pieces, from the second half of the fifteenth to the early sixteenth century, are also often comparable to works in other materials, such as the more numerous mother-of-pearl roundels. Both drew on the same graphic sources and brought sacred images into the possession of the pious.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | The Virgin and Child between St. John the Evangelist and St. Catherine (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Bas relief in carved bone |
Brief description | Relief, bone, carved with the Virgin and Child between St. John the Evangelist and St. Catherine, Germany (Rhenish?), second half of the 15th century |
Physical description | Circular relief in bone carved with the Virgin and Child between St. John and St. Catherine. The Virgin, wearing an imperial crown, holds the naked Christ-Child who reaches out to place a ring on the right hand of St. Catherine. |
Dimensions |
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Object history | In the possession of John Webb, London, by 1862; on loan to the Museum from 1867 and purchased from Webb in 1871, for £7. |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | This is a bone relief made in the second half of the 15th century in Germany, possibly the Rhenish area. It is carved with the Virgin and Child between St. John the Evangelist and St. Catherine. The relief was originally in the form of a circular medallion with a pierced background, the upper half of the border having broken off. It must originally have been within a frame and would have served as a pendant. The use of bone rather than ivory and a copper-alloy rather than silver frame, indicates that the medallion was not intended for the élite market. This miniature ivory reliefs should be viewed in the same light as their kleinplastik counterparts in precious metals and enamel. And the later pieces, from the second half of the fifteenth to the early sixteenth century, are also often comparable to works in other materials, such as the more numerous mother-of-pearl roundels. Both drew on the same graphic sources and brought sacred images into the possession of the pious. |
Bibliographic references |
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Collection | |
Accession number | 383-1871 |
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Record created | September 9, 2008 |
Record URL |
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