Gothic Ivories Project | Panels (fragments of a casket; coffret) (Front)

Height: 49mm (A); 48mm (B); 48mm (C)
Width: 173mm (A); 83mm (B); 88mm (C)
Depth: 8mm

Body, front (A)
The prodigal son receives his inheritance; prodigal son kneeling between his mother and father. The prodigal son on horseback with a hawk on his wrist; kneeling man; servant with a staff and whip. Horse with bags and dog on its back. Body, back (B and C)
B: Prodigal son holding wine between two prostitutes. Prodigal son bathing with a prostitute; servant (?) with a cup.
C: Shirtless prodigal son chased away by prostitutes when all his money is squandered. Prodigal son kneeling before father and seeking forgiveness; pigs.

Koechlin 1924: France, early 14th century.
Gaborit-Chopin 2003 and Museum's opinion 2010: Paris? c. 1250-1270.

Attribution
Unknown

Polychromy - Gilding
Traces of polychromy (bright red, blue).

Reverse
Panels bevelled on back to allow them to be joined together.
A: inscribed 'no. 46'.
B and C: traces of red wax stamps and labels: 'no. 48' and 'no. 47'.

Object Condition
Multiple holes for fittings. Corners chipped; panels recut at the top; small chips around the borders.
A: Missing: Right hind leg of the horse. Holes and open crack at the right side.
B and C: Originally formed one of the long sides of the casket, later sawn in half (date unknown). Scratches on the back.

Comments
Remains of very small glass beads in the eyes of the people and animals, and harnesses of the horses.

Provenance
Louis-Charles Timbal collection (no. 47); acquired from him by the Musée du Louvre in 1882.

Bibliography
L. Courajod, E. Molinier, Musées nationaux. Catalogue de la collection Timbal (Paris, 1882), no. 47.
E. Molinier, Musée National du Louvre. Catalogue des ivoires (Paris, 1896), no. 46-48.
R. Koechlin, 'Quelques diptyques d'ivoire gothiques français. Les diptyques à décor de roses', in Gazette des Beaux-Arts, July-Sept. 1918, p. 233, fig. p. 228.
R. Koechlin, Les Ivoires gothiques français (Paris, 1924), I, p. 153, 440; II, no. 254, III, pl. LXV.
B. Guineau, 'Études des couleurs dans la polychromie des ivoires médiévaux', in Bulletin de la Société nationale de l'art français, 1996, p. 194.
D. Gaborit-Chopin, Ivoires médiévaux, Ve-XVe siècle (Paris: Musée du Louvre, 2003), no. 115.

© Réunion des musées nationaux (RMN) - Daniel Arnaudet.
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