Gothic Ivories Project | Box (boite) (End, right)

Bone;wood (core and dark squares in the chequered pattern on the bottom);gilt bronze (later lock)

Lid
Register 1: saint Clare as a nun holding a pyxis; saint John the Baptist holding the Lamb of God (Agnus Dei); saint Catherine of Alexandria with a broken wheel; saint Peter holding a key.
Register 2: saint Anthony standing in fire; saint Barbara holding a tower; saint James the Greater; saint Margaret emerging of the dragon unharmed.
Body, front
Virgin with hands crossed on her chest; seated Christ or God the Father; throne; blessing gesture; flowers.
End, right
Adoration of the Magi; flowers.
Body, back
Saint Mary Magdalene; saint John the Evangelist. Not seen
End, left
Annunciation; vase of lilies; dove of the Holy Spirit.
Foliated decoration. Flowers.
Bottom: chequered pattern.

Attribution
Unknown

Polychromy - Gilding
Traces of polychromy and gilding: green, red and gold.

Reverse
Carved on all sides.

Comments
The 16th-century lock is engraved with arabesques.

Provenance
Attenborough collection, Duke street: sale, K. F. & R., 5 April 1909, lot 7. H. v. Lawrence. Collection G. R. H., XXI, no. 1223. Bourgeois and Co., Cologne, 9 July 1909. Collection of W. von Dirksen, Berlin: Rudolph Lepke's Kunst-Auctions-Haus, Sammlung W. von Dirksen, Berlin: Kunstwerke und Kunstgewerbe, 1931, lot 220, pl. 44. Sotheby's, London, 9 July 1987, lot 19. 'The Property of a Nobleman'. Sotheby's, London, 12 December 1996, lot 36. Sotheby's, London, 8 July 1998, lot 215.
Note: the order of the early provenance has not been checked.

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