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'.
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.
Museum's opinion 2012: probably Flanders, late 15th century or early 16th 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.
Provenance
Acquired in 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.
All images on this website are made available exclusively for scholarly and educational purposes and may not be used commercially.