Portable Altar and Two Side Panels
Unknown Artist
9th–12th century and/or later
Medium
Ivory, shell gold, wood box, stone inset on lid
Dimensions
Overall (a-box, b-lid): 3 9/16 x 11 5/8 x 5 1/4 in. (9.1 x 29.5 x 13.4 cm) c only: 2 1/16 x 10 7/16 x 1/2 in. (5.2 x 26.5 x 1.3 cm) d only: 2 1/8 x 10 5/16 x 7/16 in. (5.4 x 26.2 x 1.1 cm)
Classification
Ivories
Culture
European
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number
17.190.42 a-d
Tags
About this artwork
This portable altar and two side panels from European, dating from 9th–12th century and/or later, reflects the artistic and spiritual values of the medieval Christian world. The precious materials underscore the object's liturgical importance and the value placed on beautifying sacred spaces. The work, executed in ivory, shell gold, wood box, stone inset on lid, dates from a period of significant artistic development. This work provides valuable insights into the broader cultural and material co...