Gothic Ivories Project | Casket (coffret; frise d'arcatures) (Lid)

Casket (coffret; frise d'arcatures) (Lid)

Casket (coffret; frise d'arcatures) (Lid)

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Bottom

Front

End, right

End, left

Front

Back

Links

Subject
Religious. Lives of saints.

Repository Institution
www.britishmuseum.org

To purchase an image
www.bmimages.com

London, The British Museum

1878,1101.33 (Dalton 371)

Ivory;metal, gold and glass (later fittings).

Height: 60mm
Width: 80mm
Depth: 8mm (panels)

Lid
Saint Margaret emerging from the dragon, holding a crucifix. Standing Virgin and Child. Saint Christopher carrying the Christ Child across the river. Saint James the Greater with a pilgrim's staff.
Body, front
King; unidentified martyrdom or Judgement of Solomon (?).
End, right
Saint Martin and the beggar.
Body, back
Flagellation or martyrdom (?).
End, left
Martyrdom of saint Catherine of Alexandria; saint Catherine of Alexandria is tortured on a wheel with iron spikes; the wheel is destroyed by a thunderbolt from heaven. Beheading of a kneeling figure (possibly saint Catherine).

Dalton 1909: French, second half of 14th century.
Museum's opinion 2011: French, late 14th century.

Attribution
Unknown

Reverse
Carved on all sides.

Object Condition
Front panel cracked and restored, possibly for the fitting of a new lock and clasp.

Comments
The bottom is flat and smooth. Label with no. 5.

Provenance
Collection of Lieutenant-General Augustus W. H. Meyrick (b. 1826, d. 1902): donated by him to the British Museum in 1878.

Bibliography
O. M. Dalton, Catalogue of the Ivory Carvings of the Christian Era in the British Museum (London, 1909), no. 371, pl. LXXXVII.
P. Williamson and G. Davies, Medieval Ivory Carvings 1200-1550 (London, 2014), in relation to no. 169.

Image

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