Gothic Ivories Project | Diptych, 3 registers, 3 arches across (frise d'arcatures; colonnettes) (Front)

Wing, left
Register 1: Crucifixion with thieves; Virgin and saint John the Evangelist; Longinus kneeling in prayer; Stephaton giving Christ vinegar.
Register 2: Death of Judas (Judas hanging); Christ before Pilate; Pilate washing his hands; Flagellation.
Register 3: Judas receiving the reward; Betrayal (Taking of Christ); woman holding a lantern (Hedroit?).
Wing, right
Register 1: Deposition with the Virgin holding Christ's hand; saint John the Evangelist holding Christ's other hand; Joseph of Arimathea holding Christ's body; man with pincers removing the nail from Christ's feet; onlooker holding a scroll with inscription.
Register 2: Entombment (Anointing of Christ's body).
Register 3: Harrowing of Hell with Adam and Eve coming out of the gate of Hell; saint John the Baptist in prayer; souls burning in a cauldron in Hell; demon.
Rounded trefoils in the spandrels. Pinnacles.

Catalogue 1910: Southern French, 14th century.
Koechlin 1924: German (?), 14th century.
Mann 1931: South French, 14th century (or a German imitation of that school).
Museum's opinion 2009: French or German, probably 14th century.

Attribution
Unknown

Hinges
Two hinges.

Polychromy - Gilding
Extensive traces of polychromy and gilding.

Reverse
Modern labels with inscriptions: 'VIII G/431', '431' (431 corresponds to the Wallace Collection catalogue number). Longer edges slightly chamfered.

Object Condition
Two holes at the centre of each wing.

Provenance
Collection of Sir Richard Wallace (by 1890).

Bibliography
E. Molinier, La Collection Wallace (objets d'art). Introduction by Lady Dilke (Paris, 1903 [-04])/A. L. Baldry, The Wallace Collection at Hertford House (London, 1904), p. 247.
Catalogue of the Furnitures, Marbles, Bronzes, Clocks, Candelabra, Majolica,... Miniatures and Objects of Art Generally in the Wallace Collection, 6th ed. (London, 1910), no. 431.
R. Koechlin, Les Ivoires gothiques français (Paris, 1924), I, pp. 58, 89, 113; II, no. 61bis; III, pl. XXIII.
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. 92, pl. 63.

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