The Ascension
Plaque
ca. 1180 (made)
ca. 1180 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is an ivory plaque made in Cologne in about 1180 representing the Ascension of Christ.
Ivory was used all over Europe for religious works of art. It was often combined with precious metals and usually took the form of relief panels, for book covers, portable altars and caskets. An almost unbroken tradition of ivory carving extends from the Roman and Byzantine empires until the end of the 14th century. From about 1250, Paris became the centre of production for figures and reliefs intended for private devotion.
It was said that the present plaque and another of the Nativity once formed part of the Cologne tabernacle, formerly called the Eltenberg reliquary (7650-1861). It was removed in about 1840 and was replaced in about 1855 with the relief of the journey of the three Magi by Geoffrey Dechaulme which is based on the late-twelfth century relief on the tabernacle in the Kunstgewerbemuseum in Berlin. But this attribution has to be used with caution.
Ivory was used all over Europe for religious works of art. It was often combined with precious metals and usually took the form of relief panels, for book covers, portable altars and caskets. An almost unbroken tradition of ivory carving extends from the Roman and Byzantine empires until the end of the 14th century. From about 1250, Paris became the centre of production for figures and reliefs intended for private devotion.
It was said that the present plaque and another of the Nativity once formed part of the Cologne tabernacle, formerly called the Eltenberg reliquary (7650-1861). It was removed in about 1840 and was replaced in about 1855 with the relief of the journey of the three Magi by Geoffrey Dechaulme which is based on the late-twelfth century relief on the tabernacle in the Kunstgewerbemuseum in Berlin. But this attribution has to be used with caution.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 3 parts. (Some alternative part names are also shown below)
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| Title | The Ascension (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Walrus ivory carved in high relief |
| Brief description | Plaque, walrus ivory, formerly part of a tabernacle, The Ascension, made Lower Rhine (Cologne), ca. 1180 |
| Physical description | Christ is represented with a cruciform nimbus and standing on clouds holding the Banner of the Resurrection, surrounded by stars (12) and the Sun (with the letter V incised) and Moon; below is a group of seven apostles, the figures carved on a smaller scale, flanked by two angels, who stand on flat stones The head of the angel on the left has been replaced by a modern copy, now removed, and portions are broken away at the top and bottom. The ivory was set in a wood cover of a mid-12th century manuscript probably executed at St Maurice en Valois in Switzerland when it was acquired in 1867. It was removed from the cover in 1980. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'VITVL[VS]' (Carved on the reverse)
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| Object history | Formerly Webb collection. Purchased 1867. Historical significance: see 7650-1861 |
| Historical context | The present ivory once formed part of the Cologne tabernacle, formerly called the Eltenberg reliquary (7650-1861). It was removed in about 1840 and was replaced in about 1855 with the relief of the journey of the three Magi by Geoffrey Dechaulme which is based on the late-twelfth century relief on the tabernacle in the Kunstgewerbemuseum in Berlin. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This is an ivory plaque made in Cologne in about 1180 representing the Ascension of Christ. Ivory was used all over Europe for religious works of art. It was often combined with precious metals and usually took the form of relief panels, for book covers, portable altars and caskets. An almost unbroken tradition of ivory carving extends from the Roman and Byzantine empires until the end of the 14th century. From about 1250, Paris became the centre of production for figures and reliefs intended for private devotion. It was said that the present plaque and another of the Nativity once formed part of the Cologne tabernacle, formerly called the Eltenberg reliquary (7650-1861). It was removed in about 1840 and was replaced in about 1855 with the relief of the journey of the three Magi by Geoffrey Dechaulme which is based on the late-twelfth century relief on the tabernacle in the Kunstgewerbemuseum in Berlin. But this attribution has to be used with caution. |
| Associated object | |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 259-1867 |
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| Record created | December 29, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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