{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O168748"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O168748/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2012FU0502/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2012FU0502/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2012FU0502","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FU0501","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KB2007","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O168748/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O168748","accessionNumber":"1400-1888","objectType":"Mirror back","titles":[{"title":"Four Pairs of Lovers","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This is an ivory mirror back, made in Paris in about 1320-1330. It depicts four pairs of lovers divided by a tree and its branches. \n\nIvory combs, together with mirror cases and gravoirs for parting the hair, formed an essential part of the trousse de toilette or étui (dressing case) of the typical wealthy lady or gentleman in the Gothic period.\r\n\r\nGothic ivory mirror backs survive in considerable numbers. The ivory cases themselves, usually between 8 and 14 cm in diameter, consisted of two paired ivory discs (described here as ‘mirror backs’), often with four crawling monsters or lions (or leaves) carved around the outer edge. These ornamental features would transform the circle into a square and make the opening of the case easier, although their vulnerability to breakage is now all too evident. \r\nThe majority of the ivory mirror cases and their leather boxes must have been purchased as expensive gifts, to be presented by the wealthy élite to their friends, family and lovers, and often as wedding presents. The subject matter of the mirror backs was almost exclusively secular. \r\n","physicalDescription":"The piece is divided by the stem and branches of a tree into four compartments, with two further smaller trees at the sides. A couple is shown in each compartment: at the top left a young man, holding his gloves in his right hand, appears to take a crown from the woman; at the top right a man moves to embrace his lover, caressing her chin with his right hand; at the bottom right the kneeling man is crowned by the woman; and at the bottom left the man steps out with the lady, a falcon on his right hand. The woman at top right and bottom left is shown with her hair in buns, as opposed to the flowing locks in the other two compartments.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"ivory","id":"AAT11857"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carved","id":"AAT53149"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Elephant ivory","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Accessories","id":"THES48998"},{"text":"Personal accessories","id":"THES48912"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2012FU0502","2012FU0501","2017KB2007"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"011","id":"THES395629"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Mirror back","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"France","id":"x28849"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1320-1330","earliest":"1315-01-01","latest":"1330-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"9.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"In the collection of Albert Denison, Baron Londesborough (1805-60), by 1857; Acquired from the Londesborough Collection for 31l 10s (Sale, Christie's July 10th 1888, no. 753). ","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Mirror back, ivory, Four Pairs of Lovers, France (Paris), ca. 1320-1330","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"<u>List of Objects in the Art Division, South Kensington Museum acquired during the Year 1888</u> London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1889, p. 125"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Longhurst, Margaret. <u>Catalogue of Carvings in Ivory</u> London. Victoria and Albert Museum, 1929, p. 45"},{"reference":{"text":"Koechlin, R., <u>Les Ivoires gothiques français</u>, 3 vols, Paris, 1924 (reprinted Paris 1968)","id":"AUTH332728"},"details":"I, p. 382, II, cat. no. 1011","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 II, pp. 582-583","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Fairholt, F.W., <u>Miscellanea Graphica. Representations of Ancient, Medieval, and Renaissance remains in the possession of Lord Londesborough, London, 1857, pl. IV, fig. 5"},{"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 II, pp. 582-583, cat. no. 200"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"lovers","id":"AAT188621"},{"text":"tree","id":"x37637"},{"text":"men","id":"AAT25928"},{"text":"women","id":"AAT25943"},{"text":"falcon","id":"AAT36944"},{"text":"crown","id":"x40442"}],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"love","id":"AAT55165"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["1400-1888"],"accessionNumberNum":"1400","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1888,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-11","recordCreationDate":"2008-10-06","availableToBook":true}}