{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O166591"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O166591/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2013GM2005/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2013GM2005/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2013GM2005","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2013GM2004","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2013GT9419","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AD3487","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KC8178","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O166591/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O166591","accessionNumber":"370-1871","objectType":"Polyptych","titles":[{"title":"The Virgin and Child","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This portable shrine opens to reveal the Virgin and Child surrounded by events from the Virgin's life and the infancy of Christ. Christ holds an apple, symbolising his redemption of mankind after the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. These image encourage the user to meditate on the Virgin's role in bringing Christ to earth.\nThe term tabernacle polyptych has been used here (ref. Williamson and Davies) to describe an object which consists of a deep central chamber with canopy, usually containing the Virgin and Child, and four hinged wings with narrative scenes, which would distinguish them from the smaller category of simpler polyptychs, which are made up of a series of plaques hinged together but with no central tabernacle.  \r\nA feature that links most tabernacle polyptychs together is the method of facture: Although the Virgins in the tabernacles appear from the front to be statuettes they are with few exceptions carved integrally with the back and base panels, which is remarkably skilful.\r\nThis polyptych is of a type seen in good numbers, and most of the related pieces have typically been ascribed to Paris and the second quarter of the fourteenth century: two finer examples are in the Thomson collection in Toronto and in the Louvre. ","physicalDescription":"Ivory polyptych carved in high relief with the Virgin and Child and scenes from the infacny of Christ, in no narrative order: on the left wings are the Visitation, the Annunciation and the Adoration of the Magi, and on the right the Nativity,  and the Presentation in the Temple. \nIn the centre, beneath a canopy, supported on slender columns, is the standing Virgin crowned by a wingless angel emerging from clouds; she holds a flower (probably a rose) in her right hand and looks towards the Christ-Child, who holds an apple in His left hand and places His right arm around her neck. ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"ivory","id":"AAT11857"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"},{"text":"high relief","id":"AAT53626"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Elephant ivory carved in high relief, painted and gilded","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Religion","id":"THES48900"},{"text":"Christianity","id":"THES48978"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2013GM2005","2013GM2004","2013GT9419","2006AD3487","2017KC8178"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"10","id":"THES49099"},"free":"","case":"CA5","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Tabernacle","id":"AAT207778"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"France","id":"x28849"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"Paris or probably Champagne/Burgundy"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1320","earliest":"1315-01-01","latest":"1324-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"22.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"16.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"open","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"2.1","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"0.4","unit":"kg","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"central section","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Measured for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"On loan to the Museum from John Webb, London, from 1867; purchased from Webb in 1871 (£165).","historicalContext":"This portable shrine opens to reveal the Virgin and Child surrounded by events from the Virgin's life. Christ holds an apple, symbolising his redemption of mankind after the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. These image encourage the user to meditate on the Virgin's role in bringing Christ to earth.","briefDescription":"Tabernacle polyptych, ivory, with the Virgin and Child, France (Paris or probably Champagne/Burgundy), ca. 1320","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"<font -u>List of Objects in the Art Division, South Kensington, Acquired During the Year 1870, Arranged According to the Dates of Acquisition.</font> London : Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O. p. 31."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Longhurst, Margaret H. <font -u>Catalogue of Carvings in Ivory.</font> London: Published under the Authority of the Board of Education, 1927-1929, Part II, p. 12"},{"reference":{"text":"Maskell, W., <u>A Description of the Ivories Ancient and Medieval in the South Kensington Museum</u>, London, 1872","id":"AUTH330219"},"details":"p. 134, ill.","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"Maskell, A., <u>Ivories</u>, London, 1905","id":"AUTH332726"},"details":"p. 166, pl. XXXIV","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"Koechlin, R., <u>Les Ivoires gothiques français</u>, 3 vols, Paris, 1924 (reprinted Paris 1968)","id":"AUTH332728"},"details":"Vol. I, pp. 126, 127, Vol. II, cat. no. 147","free":""},{"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. 144-145","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"Gaborit-Chopin, Danielle. <u>Ivoires Médiévaux, V-XV siècle</u>. Paris, 2003","id":"AUTH333070"},"details":"p. 337","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. 144-145, cat. no. 44"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Virgin and Child","id":"N4691"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[{"text":"Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary","id":"V276"},{"text":"Presentation in the Temple","id":"V394"},{"text":"Annunciation","id":"V30"},{"text":"The Nativity","id":"V23"},{"text":"Adoration of the Magi","id":"V132"}],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"angel","id":"x31516"}],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"Nativity","id":"x37366"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Portable Shrine\r\nAbout 1300-50\r\n\r\nThis portable shrine opens to reveal the Virgin and Child surrounded by events from the Virgin's life. Christ holds an apple, symbolising his redemption of mankind after the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. These images encourage the user to meditate on the Virgin's role in bringing Christ to earth.\r\n\r\nFrance, probably Paris\r\nIvory, with traces of gilding\r\nMuseum no. 370-1871","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["370-1871"],"accessionNumberNum":"370","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1871,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LM6068","2019LN2010","2019LN7425","2019LU9099"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-07","recordCreationDate":"2008-09-05","availableToBook":false}}