plaque
- Museum number
- 1904,0702.1
- Description
-
Plaque; ivory; carved with the Adoration of the Magi: the Virgin is seated frontally holding the Christ child in her lap; behind her on the left is an angel carrying a cross-staff, while the three Magi dressed in trousers, chlamyses and Phrygian caps present their offerings with veiled hands; below this, the Nativity: the Virgin lies on a mattress at left; at the right is the child lying in a manger flanked by the ox and ass and with the star of Bethlehem above; in front of the manger Salome extends her withered hand to the child. On the back nine lines of a prayer in Greek.
- Production date
- 500-550 (circa)
- Dimensions
-
Length: 217 millimetres
-
Width: 123 millimetres
-
Depth: 15 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- Blurton 1997
Icons, images of saints or holy scenes, were venerated in Orthodox churches from the sixth century onwards. They were produced in a variety of materials and techniques.
- 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
2008 25 Oct-2009 22 Mar, London, Royal Academy of Arts, Byzantium 330-1453 AD
2000 16 Oct-2001 14 Jan, Greece, Athens, Benaki Museum, The Mother of God
2000 24 Mar-3 Oct, Israel, Jerusalem, The Israel Museum, The Cradle of Christainity
1998 9 Feb-3 May, India, Mumbai, Sir Caswasjee Jahangir Hall, The Enduring Image
1997 13 Oct-1998 5 Jan, India, New Delhi, National Museum, The Enduring Image
1995 25 Oct-1996 21 Jan, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire County Museum, We Three Kings
1977 New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Age of Spirituality, no. 476
- Acquisition date
- 1904
- Department
- Britain, Europe and Prehistory
- Registration number
- 1904,0702.1
