Seated Virgin and Child (Virgo lactans); bare-chested Christ; crown.
Randall 1993: Scandinavian, mid 14th century.
Attribution
Unknown
Reverse
Carved in the round. Back of the seat decorated with five turned ball finials (this feature, according to Randall, is typically Scandinavian).
Comments
The eyes are drilled. As this piece is stylistically related to a number of chess pieces, it is believed it was produced in a chess atelier (Randall 1993; compare for instance with Victoria and Albert Museum, Inv. 213-1867 and two pieces in the Skulpturensammlung in Berlin, Inv. 666 and Inv. 667).
Provenance
Emile Peyre collection, Paris; bought 15 December 1897 by Isabella Stewart Gardner.
Bibliography
R. H. Randall, The Golden Age of Ivory: Gothic Ivory Carvings in North American Collections (New York, 1993), no. 19.
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