{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O106808"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O106808/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2013GE2459/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2013GE2459/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2013GE2459","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2013GE2460","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AD3476","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KB2016","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O106808/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O106808","accessionNumber":"150-1879","objectType":"Pax","titles":[{"title":"Crucifixion with the Virgin, St John, St Denis and St James the Greater","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This ivory pax, made in France (probably Paris), in the second quarter of the fourteenth-century,  is carved with a representation of Christ on the cross flanked by the Virgin Mary, St John, St. Denis and St James the Greater. Above the figures there is an ogee arch with two shells in the spandrils. In Catholic culture a pax is a sacred tablet to be kissed by communicants.\r\n\r\nA pax is a tablet or board, sometimes of silver, usually decorated with a Christian religious representation. A pax was used at the end of mass as part of the ‘Kiss of Peace’ ritual after the Angus Dei. First the priest would kiss the tablet, then the members of the congregation. England was precocious in introducing the pax, but references abound elsewhere from the beginning of the fourteenth century onwards. Paxes could be made from many materials, including wood, copper, silver and gold, as well as ivory.\r\nThe earliest, fourteenth-century, examples are invariably decorated with the Crucifixion, but the imagery rapidly diversified to take in other scenes connected with the Christ’s Passion and Sacrifice. By the fifteenth century the choice had expanded, with many scenes of the Virgin and Child. \r\nThis is a personalised pax, not only for the letters N and B (almost certainly the letters of the donor), but also for the inclusion of the coquilles Saint-Jacques (shell motives). These shells and the presence of St James himself, unequivocally indicate a close connection with the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. The great pilgrimage hostel and church in Paris for those on their way to Santiago de Compostela was Saint-Jacques-aux-Pèlerins, founded in 1319 and situated on the rue Saint-Denis. This was the seat of a confraternity established to bring together those members of the wealthy élite of Paris who had completed the pilgrimage and to offer hospitality to pilgrims about to embark on the journey.\r\n\r\n\r\n","physicalDescription":"Carved ivory plaque depicting the Crucifixion with the Virgin, St John, St Denis and St James the Greater against a hatched background under an ogee arch with two shells in the spandrels. In the border are shells and the letters N and B at intervals. The ivory has probably been gilded and there are three holes at the top and a slot for a handle at the back. \r\nThe crucified Christ is shown on a rugged cross. On the left are the Virgin and St Dionysius (Denis), the latter holding his mitred head in his hands (and consequently taller than the other figures). On the right are St John the Evangelist and St James the Greater, the latter in the guise of a pilgrim with hat and a shoulder bag with shell. The figures are set against a cross-hatched background and stand below a trefoil arch with crockets and with two shells in the spandrels before openwork tracery. Carved into the border are square panels with four further shells and the letters N and B repeated.\r\n","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"ivory","id":"AAT11857"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Carved elephant ivory","categories":[{"text":"Ceremonial objects","id":"THES48981"},{"text":"Christianity","id":"THES48978"},{"text":"Religion","id":"THES48900"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2013GE2459","2013GE2460","2006AD3476","2017KB2016"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"111","id":"THES49918"},"free":"","case":"CA8","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Pax","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"France","id":"x28849"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"probably Paris "}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"second quarter 15th century","earliest":"1425-01-01","latest":"1450-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"9.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"7.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"In the collection of John Charles Robinson (1824-1913), London. Purchased from Robinson in 1879, with numerous other unrelated objects. ","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Pax, carved ivory plaque, depicting the Crucifixion with the Virgin, St John, St Denis and St James the Greater, France (probably Paris), second quarter of the 15th century","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"<u>List of Objects in the Art Division, South Kensington Museum acquired in the Year 1879.</u> London, 1880, p. 14"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Williamson, P, 'Ivory carvings in English treasuries before the Reformation', in Buckton, D. and Heslop T.A eds. <u>Studies in Medieval Art and Architecture presented to Peter Lasko.</u> Stroud: Alan Sutton, 1994, p. 200, fig.10"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Randall, R.H, Jr. 'Dutch ivories of the fifteenth century' in <u>Nederlands Kunsthistorisch Jaarboek.</u> Utrecht, 1994, p. 130"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Longhurst, M. <u>Catalogue of Carvings in Ivory.</u> London: V&A, 1929, p. 39"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Koechlin. <u>Les Ivoires Gothiques Francais.</u> Paris, 1924, p. 332"},{"reference":{"text":"Williamson, Paul and Davies, Glyn, <u>Medieval Ivory Carvings, 1200-1550</u>, (in 2 parts), V&A Publishing, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 2014","id":"AUTH332632"},"details":"part 1, pp. 400-401","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Williamson, Paul and Davies, Glyn, <u>Medieval Ivory Carvings, 1200-1550</u>, (in 2 parts), V&A Publishing, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 2014, part 1, pp. 400-401, cat. no. 140"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Jesus Christ","id":"N1515"},{"text":"Mary (Virgin Mary)","id":"N480"},{"text":"St. John the Evangelist","id":"N935"},{"text":"Denis (Saint)","id":"N465"},{"text":"James (Saint, the Greater)","id":"N446"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[{"text":"The Crucifixion","id":"V106"}],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"scallop shell","id":"AAT167875"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["150-1879"],"accessionNumberNum":"150","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1879,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-08","recordCreationDate":"2004-10-27","availableToBook":false}}