Pectoral with Christ and the Lamb of God and the Symbols of the Four Evangelists
Unknown Artist
1000–1050
Medium
Walrus ivory with gilt-copper sheets and copper alloy pin
Dimensions
Overall: 5 7/8 x 2 1/2 x 1 3/8 in. (14.9 x 6.3 x 3.5 cm) width with iron pins: 2 11/16 in. (6.9 cm)
Classification
Ivories-Walrus
Culture
British or North French
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number
17.190.217
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite pectoral, crafted between 1000 and 1050, is a rare survivor from the early medieval period, likely worn as a devotional pendant by clergy or high-ranking church figures. Carved from walrus ivory prized material sourced from Arctic trade routes via Viking networks—it depicts Christ enthroned with the Lamb God, flanked by the traditional symbols of the Four Evangel: the eagle (John), ox (Luke), and lambs or other motifs evoking divine authority. Gilt-copper sheets add a shimmering golden glow, enhancing its liturgical splendor, while a copper alloy pin allowed it to be fastened to...