Gothic Ivories Project | Panel (Front)

Seven medallions
From top to bottom:
Annunciation; dove of the Holy Spirit; vase of lilies.
Attendant with horses; whip. Adoration of the Magi. Crucifixion; swooning Virgin supported by one of the Holy Women; saint John the Evangelist and onlooker; sun and moon. Death of Judas (Judas hanging); soldier; tree. Betrayal (Taking of Christ; Kiss of Judas); Christ restores Malchus' ear, cut by saint Peter (x2).
In the four corners are: saint John the Evangelist; seated Virgin; saint Peter holding a key (x2). Nativity (without Christ). Resurrection; two angels kneeling on the tomb.
Foliated decoration.

Longhurst 1929: in 15th-century style.
Williamson and Davies 2014: Of indeterminate origin (French or English?), probably about 1875-90.

Attribution
Unknown

Reverse
Flat smooth with three labels: Gibson-Carmichael arms and motto of Baronetage of Scotland 'Fax Mentis Honestae Gloria' ('Glory is the torch of the honourable man') and '121', Salting Bequest number '2219', and half a Christie's label.

Object Condition
Worn.
Club held by the soldier in the hanging of Judas broken.

Comments
The ivory medallions were carved deparately from the plaque. The iconography on this plaque may have been copied from a diptych in the Petit-Palais (Koechlin no. 808), which has the same choice of scenes (see Williamson and Davies 2014).

Provenance
Collection of Sir Thomas Gibson Carmichael, Castle Craig: Gibson-Carmichael sale, 13 May 1902, lot 140. Collection of George Salting: his bequest to the museum in 1910.

Bibliography
'Salting Bequest (A. 70 to A. 1029-1910)/Murray Bequest (A. 1030 to A. 1096-1910)', in List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum (Department of Architecture and Sculpture) (London, 1910), p. 96.
M. Longhurst, Catalogue of Carvings in Ivory, Victoria and Albert Museum, 2 vols (London, 1927 and 1929), II (1929), p. 127.
P. Williamson and G. Davies, Medieval Ivory Carvings 1200-1550 (London, 2014), no. 186.

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