Diptych with Dormition and Coronation of the Virgin
Unknown Artist
14th century
Medium
Ivory with metal mounts
Dimensions
Overall (opened): 3 9/16 x 5 x 1/4 in. (9.1 x 12.7 x 0.6 cm) Overall (closed): 3 9/16 x 2 1/2 x 1/2 in. (9.1 x 6.3 x 1.2 cm) wing: 3 9/16 x 2 1/2 x 1/4 in. (9.1 x 6.3 x 0.6 cm)
Classification
Ivories
Culture
French or South Netherlandish
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Theodore M. Davis Collection, Bequest of Theodore M. Davis, 1915
Accession Number
30.95.124a, b
Tags
About this artwork
This ivories from French or South Netherlandish, dating to 14th century, provides valuable insight into the artistic practices and material culture of its era. Cast or worked in ivory with metal mounts, this piece exemplifies sophisticated metalworking traditions. The creation of metal objects involved complex processes including casting, chasing, engraving, and finishing that required years of apprenticeship and specialized knowledge. The object's dimensions—overall—reflect both practical consi...
Art Historical Context
This exquisite 14th-century ivoryptych, likely from French or South Netherish workshops, captures two pivotal moments in the life of the Virgin Mary: Dormition, or peaceful death surrounded by apostles and Christ, and her heavenly Coronation by Christ. Crafted from delicate elephant ivory with ornate metal mounts, the piece unfolds like a portable prayer book—measuring just 3 9/16 x 5 inches when open—making it ideal for personal devotion during the late Middle Ages. Ivory carving reached new heights of refinement in Gothic Europe, where artists transformed the smooth, luminous material into ...