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panel
Object Type
panel
Museum number
1896,0618.1
Description
Panel; ivory; carved in relief with a depiction of The Baptism: young Christ standing full-face up to waist in water; to left, St John the Baptist stands leaning forward upon a rock, one hand resting upon Christ's head; above, the hand of God with rays of light, and issuing from it the dove holding a shallow bowl in its beak; in the background, to right, an angel holding a garment(?) in the foreground reclines a draped and bearded figure (the River Jordan) crowned with reeds and right hand raised; trees in the upper part; raised border at top and bottom.
Cultures/periods
Early Byzantine
Production date
6thC
Production place
Made in:
Egypt
(?)
Made in:
Syria
(?)
Materials
elephant ivory
Technique
carved
relief
Dimensions
Height:
16.30 centimetres
Weight:
128 grammes
Width:
8.10 centimetres
Depth:
1 centimetres
Bibliographic references
Dalton 1901 / Catalogue of Early Christian Antiquities and Objects from the Christian East in the Department of British and Medieval Antiquities and Ethnography of the British Museum
(294)
Dalton 1909 / Catalogue of the Ivory Carvings of the Christian Era with Examples of Mohammedan Art and Carvings in Bone in the Department of British and Mediaeval Antiquities and Ethnography of the British Museum
(10)
Marzinzik 2013 / Masterpieces: Early medieval art
(25)
Volbach 1976 / Elfenbeinarbeiten der Spätantike und des frühen Mittelalters
(115)
Location
On display
(G41/dc13)
Exhibition history
Exhibited: 2012-2013 11 Nov-25 Aug, USA, Art Institute of Chicago, Tradition Transformed: Late Roman and Early Byzantine Treasures from the British Museum
Condition
The panel is imperfect on both sides; a circular perforation to left of hand of God.
Subjects
bird
saint/martyr
baptism of christ
angel
tree/bush
landscape
Associated names
Representation of:
Jesus Christ
Representation of:
St John the Baptist (Prodromos)
Emblem of:
God
Associated places
Associated with:
River Jordan
Acquisition name
Purchased from:
Dr Robert Forrer
Acquisition date
1896
Department
Britain, Europe and Prehistory
Registration number
1896,0618.1
Conservation
Treatment
: 25 Apr 2012