diptych
- Museum number
- Af1868,1001.7
- Description
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Diptych; in a silver gilt case. Outside is an applied eight-point star decoration with centrally mounted circular piece of glass, underneath the glass are red fibres. Above the star is a faint Ge'ez inscription. Inside, on the proper right, a painted enamel is secured by a series of triangular fixtures. On the proper left is a gilded engraving of a haloed figure with lions at their feet. Around the edges and to either side of the image are inscriptions in Ge'ez.
- Production date
- 16thC-19thC
- Dimensions
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Height: 11.50 centimetres
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Width: 13 centimetres
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Depth: 7 centimetres
- $Inscriptions
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- Curator's comments
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This diptych combines the work of early European and Ethiopian artists.
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On the proper right is a Limoges enamel. The image is based on a woodcut depicting ‘Christ Taking Leave of His Mother’ from the series ‘Small Passion’ (1509 -1511) by German artist Albrecht Durer (1471 - 1528). It is believed this enamel was produced in a workshop that has been called the 'Workshop of the Santa Cruz de Coimbra Small Passion' (see Higgott 2020). There are up to 101 known examples of enamels attributed to this workshop. The largest groups are in the Wallace Collection, London (24 plaques) and the Museu Nacionale de Soares does Reis, Porto (26 plaques). Scientific analysis of enamels from this workshop suggests that they were produced between the mid sixteenth and early seventeeth century. The period between 1570 and 1630 saw a revival of interest in Durer in France and popularity of polychrome enamels.
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On the proper left, an Ethiopian saint, Abun Gabra Manfus Qeddus, is depicted. He stands with hands raised in prayer, an elongated face with finely engraved features and a large halo. He wears a scapular and a robe scored with fine linear patterns representing the belief that the Saint was clothed only in his own hair. At his feet are four lions. The saint is identifiable through these visual references (with which he is often depicted) and through the Ge’ez inscriptions.
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Part of a collection of material taken from the fortress of Emperor Tewedros II (reigned 1855-1868) at Maqdala during the Abyssinian Campaign (1867-1868). Tewodros had sought to bring the whole of Ethiopia under his control through military campaigns. During these conquests, he took books, holy relics and manuscripts from churches throughout Ethiopia, and particularly from Gondar, with the intention of establishing Maqdala as a seat of learning and research. By 1868, the treasury and church store included hundreds of manuscripts and many fine examples of liturgical objects and art including textiles, paintings, and metal work.
The British Expedition to Abyssinia (now Ethiopia) 1867-1868 culminated in a military assault on Maqdala on 13 April 1868. Tewodros committed suicide, rather than be taken prisoner. Hundreds of his soldiers were killed and many thousands injured. The treasury, church and royal household were plundered by the British and Indian troops. Maqdala was destroyed by military order on 17 April 1868. Much of the plundered material was reassembled by an Army Prize Committee and sold at an auction of loot on the nearby Delanta Plain, 20 – 21 April 1868.
Richard Holmes participated in the Abyssinia Expedition as ‘archaeologist’ and official representative of the British Museum. He was one of the first people to enter Maqdala with the military force. He participated directly in the plundering. He purchased objects from soldiers and at the official sale of loot on behalf of the British Museum.
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See Collection File Af1868,1001.1-32
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
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1978, London, British Museum, Christian Orient
- Condition
- Very good.
- Associated events
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Associated Event: Abyssinian Campaign 1867-1868
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Associated Event: Battle of Maqdala 13 April 1868
- Associated titles
Associated Title: Christ taking leave of his mother (By Albrecht Durer)
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Acquisition notes
- Purchased at the Army sale of loot from Maqdala on the Delanta Plain, 20-21 April 1868. Described as 'A small diptych of silver gilt containing in one leaf a Limoges enamel of our saviour and three maids – on the other engraved an Abyssinian saint – taken from the body of a chief. Size 5x4 inches. 230 Rupees.' See 'List of articles purchased for the British Museum at the sale of the plunder of Magdala 20 and 21 April 1868', R. Holmes (British Museum Central Archive, Original Papers Volume 94, April to July 1868).
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- Af1868,1001.7