Side 1: courting couple (meeting of lovers); embracing couple; couple holding hands.
Side 2: skeleton holding a scythe (Death). Scroll with inscription: 'EN VOVS MIRES TES Q IE SUI SERES' (Recognise in me what you will soon be).
Foliated decoration.
Sauzay 1863: 15th century, part of a confraternity sceptre.
Molinier 1896: France, 16th century, part of a confraternity sceptre.
Koechlin 1924: Northern France or Flanders, early 16th century.
Dieppe 2005: Northern France, c. 1490-1500.
Châlons-en-Champagne 2007-2008: Northern France, c. 1500 (?).
Attribution
Unknown
Reverse
Carved in round.
Comments
This is one of the terminal beads of a rosary. Sauvageot had this piece changed into a part of a 'confraternity sceptre' when in his possession in the 19th century.
Hole down the centre.
Provenance
Collection of Alexandre-Charles Sauvageot (acquired in 1843); gift of A.-C. Sauvageot to the Museum in 1856.
Bibliography
A. Sauzay, Musée impérial du Louvre. Catalogue du musée Sauvageot (Paris, 1861), no. 303, p. 71.
A. Sauzay, Musée de la Renaissance [Musée du Louvre]. Notice des ivoires (Paris, 1863), no. A. 168, p. 52.
E. Molinier, Musée National du Louvre. Catalogue des ivoires (Paris, 1896), no. 178, pp. 316-317.
R. Koechlin, Les Ivoires gothiques français (Paris, 1924), I, pp. 449, 457; II, no. 1239; III, pl. CCI.
C. Ferment, Les Statuettes d'ivoire en Europe du Moyen Age au XIXe siècle (Paris, 2000), p. 131.
Ivoires du Musée du Louvre 1480-1850: une collection inédite, exhibition catalogue, Dieppe, Château-Musée de Dieppe, 2005, no. 4.
Histoires d'ivoire. Collections du Musée du Louvre et des musées de Châlons-en-Champagne, exhibition catalogue, Châlons-en-Champagne, Musée des Beaux-Arts et d'Archéologie, 2007-2008, no. 15.
P. Malgouyres, Ivoires de la Renaissance et des Temps Modernes. La Collection du Musée du Louvre (Paris, 2010), no. 121.
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