λ A late Byzantine carved ivory group of the Virgin and child

λ A late Byzantine carved ivory group of the Virgin and child, Mary is depicted breast feeding the Christ child who lies horizontally, probably Northern Italy, 13th / 14th century, 7cm high, later mounted on a velvet covered plinth.

Provenance: Purchased by the vendor from Howard Neville Antiques, 58 Davies Street, London and 21 The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, Kent on the 24th February 1998 as 12th century Byzantine. A copy of the receipt is available.

Illustrated in 'Gems & Jewels, Fact & Fable' by Christopher Cavey, p. 103.

This small but powerful statuette is related to a group of mysterious carvings which are little understood. There is a similar example in the V&A Museum collection and is illustrated in 'Medieval Ivory Carvings 1200-1550', by P. Williamson and G. Davies, cat. no. 182. The purpose of these carvings is unclear but one suggestion is that with similar ivories they would have formed a devotional panel / group.