Side 1: Crucifixion; swooning Virgin supported by saint John the Evangelist; unidentified praying figure (possibly saint Mary Magdalene); basket; crown; cruciform halo; moon; titulus with carved inscription 'INRI' (only N.R remains).
Side 2: Mass of saint Gregory; saint Gregory kneeling at the altar; Instruments of the Passion (nails; cross; whip; empty tomb); kneeling tonsured monk holding a papal tiara; unidentified kneeling figure.
Side 3: standing Virgin and Child; Virgin in the sun; crescent moon; Virgin as the Apocalyptic woman; crown.
Longhurst 1929: France (North) or Flanders, end of the 15th century or beginning of the 16th century.
Williamson and Davies 2014: probably Northern Netherlandish or Lower Rhenish, late 15th century.
Attribution
Unknown
Reverse
Carved on all sides.
Object Condition
The ivory is much broken and has been cut down at the top.
Side 1
Missing: the figure of Christ; the sun; the head and part of the body of the unidentified standing figure. The background is pierced with two large circular holes.
Side 2
Missing: the figure of Christ; saint Gregory's head; the head and part of the body of the unidentified kneeling figure; part of the right side of the relief.
The background is pierced with several holes.
The underside is smooth with no hole. Two large holes pierce the central part.
Provenance
Collection of J. H. Fitzhenry, London: Fitzhenry sale, Christie, Manson & Woods, London, 18 November 1913, lot 23. Purchased from Alfred Spero, London, in 1927.
Bibliography
M. Longhurst, Catalogue of Carvings in Ivory, Victoria and Albert Museum, 2 vols (London, 1927 and 1929), II (1929), p. 44, pl. XLI.
P. Williamson and G. Davies, Medieval Ivory Carvings 1200-1550 (London, 2014), no. 189.
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