Date: 11th century Place of Production: Cologne, Germany Description: This ivory probably originally decorated a gospel book, but was added to a fifteenth-century lectionary in the late middle ages. Christ, with a raised right hand and a book in his left, sits at the centre in glory. He is in a ‘mandorla’, (Italian: “almond”), a…
Date: 900–925 Place of Production: Milan, Italy Description: Jesus triumphantly enters the city of Jerusalem, watched by his supporters who adorn his route with palms (held by the man on the left and right), and cloaks (pictured underneath the feet of the horse). This panel was probably one of a number, each showing an important…
Date: c. 950–75 Place of Production: Cordoba, Spain Description: This cylindrical box, known as a pyxis (Arabic ushnan), represents one of the most refined carvings of the tenth century. It is thought to have been carved by an artisan working at the palace of ‘Abd al-Rahmen III, the Ummayyad caliph, who ruled much of Iberia…
Date: Late 10th/Early 11th Century Place of Production: Winchester(?), England Description: Carved in walrus ivory, this relief carving depicts the baptism of Christ. It may have originally been part of a plaque covering a book or reliquary casket. The pair stand in the waves of the river Jordan, and both have haloes above. Held at:…
Date: Mid-10th Century Place of Production: Lotharingia(?) Description: Two scenes from Christ’s life that likely adorned a book or reliquary box (a box to hold the relics of a saint). In the left scene, Christ and his followers consume the last supper, at which Christ instituted the Eucharist. In the right scene, Christ berates the…
