Inv. 64636 (Morey A79)
Volute: lion head; foliated decoration; acanthus leaves.
Around the base: Adam and Eve reproved by God the Father; Expulsion from Paradise. Annunciation; dove of the Holy Spirit; curtain.
Morey 1936: Southern Italy (Sicily?), 13th century.
Attribution
Unknown
Reverse
Carved in the round.
Object Condition
Missing: end of the volute, which was made of a piece of metal, judging from the stains left on the ivory.
Comments
Morey considers the design of the colonnettes to indicate an Italian origin, as well as the Byzantine style of the Virgin's throne. The base of the crozier is octagonal, the inner side is not carved.
Provenance
Given to the Museo Cristiano by Cardinal Giacomo Antonelli (d. 1876), Secretary of State under Pius IX (inscription at the base of the volute: 'donum Card. Ja. Antonelli 1867').
Bibliography
R. Kanzler, Gli avori dei musei profano e sacro della Biblioteca Vaticana (Rome, 1903), II, no. 56, pl. XII, pp. 3-5.
C. R. Morey, Gli oggetti di avorio e di osso del Museo Vaticano (Vatican City, 1936), no. A79, pp. 75-76, no. A79, pl. XVIII.
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