Standing Virgin and Child; Christ seated on left arm; Christ in long robe; Virgin holding a sceptre in her right hand (later); Christ holding a fruit in his left hand; crown; blessing gesture; brooch.
Mann 1931: French, 14th century.
Museum's opinion 2009: French (possibly East), 14th century.
Attribution
Unknown
Polychromy - Gilding
Traces of polychromy and gilding, especially along the hem of the Virgin's cloak and in the hair.
Reverse
Carved in the round.
Object Condition
Missing: right hand of the Virgin and object she held (replaced with a modern sceptre but was probably originally a stem of flowers).
Comments
The later gilt bronze and crystal shrine-pedestal contains four relics identified by labels: 'De S. Quentin' (proper left side of the reliquary); 'S. Clotilde' (front window); 'De S. Christop[he]' (proper right window); 'Se Marguer[ite]' (back window). It is supported at the angles on small feet in the form of heads of beasts.
Provenance
Purchased from A. Beurdeley on 8 November 1865 (receipted bill 'une vierge ivoire, 900 francs), or from Joyeau on 8 February 1869 (receipted bill 'une vierge ivoire gothique, 170 francs, but the price is struck out and 'donnée' has been written against it) by Count Alfred-Émilien de Nieuwerkerke (other receipted bill from Joyeau dated 19 November 1865 including 'un socle reliquaire du XIVme siècle' together with a serving knife, 520 francs for both); collection of the Count Alfred-Émilien de Nieuwerkerke (b. 1811, d. 1892) (from 1865 or 1869); acquired from him by Sir Richard Wallace in 1871.
Bibliography
J. G. Mann, Wallace Collection Catalogues: Sculptures, Marbles, Terracotas and Bronzes, Carvings in Ivory and Wood, Plaquettes, Medals, Coins and Wax-Reliefs (London, 1931 with 1981 supplement), p. 94, pl. 64.
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