Ceremonial staff with the arms of Denmark and Norway,
Staff
17th century (made)
17th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This ceremonial staff is by an unknown artist from Scandinavia, dated 1670, but might be a historicising confection of ca. 1850.
It is made of different sorts of ivories and bones - from different animals: the head is from the upper part of an ox's tibia, the shaft is part of a narwhal's horn, the point is of walrus-ivory with an intermediate piece of elephant ivory.
The staff is carved with the arms of Norway and Denmark united, surrounded by the collar of the order of the Elephant, and supported by two salvage men. There are also carved various shields with the Norwegian arms, the name 'Dannemarck', the initials 'C. V.' (for Christian V, King of Norway and Denmark, 1670-1699) and the date 1670. There is also another insiced inscription that translates 'God be my helper', the motto of Christian's son, King Frederick IV (1671-1730; ruled 1699-1730), a fact that makes the inscribed date of the staff curious.
It is made of different sorts of ivories and bones - from different animals: the head is from the upper part of an ox's tibia, the shaft is part of a narwhal's horn, the point is of walrus-ivory with an intermediate piece of elephant ivory.
The staff is carved with the arms of Norway and Denmark united, surrounded by the collar of the order of the Elephant, and supported by two salvage men. There are also carved various shields with the Norwegian arms, the name 'Dannemarck', the initials 'C. V.' (for Christian V, King of Norway and Denmark, 1670-1699) and the date 1670. There is also another insiced inscription that translates 'God be my helper', the motto of Christian's son, King Frederick IV (1671-1730; ruled 1699-1730), a fact that makes the inscribed date of the staff curious.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Ceremonial staff with the arms of Denmark and Norway, (named collection) |
| Materials and techniques | Carved ivory and bone. Narwhal, walrus and elephant ivory and ox bone. |
| Brief description | Ceremonial staff, ivory and bone, with the arms of Denmark and Norway, Scandinavia, dated 1670, but perhaps ca. 1850 |
| Physical description | Staff carved with the arms of Norway and Denmark united, surrounded by the collar of the order of the Elephant, and supported by two salvage men; also various shields with the Norwegian arms, the name 'Dannemarck', the initials C V (for Christian V, King of Norway and Denmark, 1670-1699) and the date 1670. Around the top an incised inscription. The head is from the upper part of an ox's tibia, the shaft part of a narwhal's 'horn', the point is of walrus-ivory with an intermediate piece of elephant ivory. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Given by F. Jessel, Esq. |
| Object history | Given by Frederic Jessel, Esq., Craven Hill Gardens, London, in 1905. According to a memorandum written by the curator A.J. Koop at the time of the acquisition, the donor bought it at Christie's 'some eighteen years ago' (Museum records). Jessel (d. 1934) was an expert on the history of playing cards and gaming. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This ceremonial staff is by an unknown artist from Scandinavia, dated 1670, but might be a historicising confection of ca. 1850. It is made of different sorts of ivories and bones - from different animals: the head is from the upper part of an ox's tibia, the shaft is part of a narwhal's horn, the point is of walrus-ivory with an intermediate piece of elephant ivory. The staff is carved with the arms of Norway and Denmark united, surrounded by the collar of the order of the Elephant, and supported by two salvage men. There are also carved various shields with the Norwegian arms, the name 'Dannemarck', the initials 'C. V.' (for Christian V, King of Norway and Denmark, 1670-1699) and the date 1670. There is also another insiced inscription that translates 'God be my helper', the motto of Christian's son, King Frederick IV (1671-1730; ruled 1699-1730), a fact that makes the inscribed date of the staff curious. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 475-1905 |
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| Record created | December 11, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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