Medieval Northern French Gothic Deeply Carved Ivory Diptych Panel

Period: 1300-1400

Origin: France

Medium: Ivory

Literature: The Panel of the Virgin and Child with angels is often found together with a panel of Christ on the cross as a diptych. During the late 14th Century there was much interest in Mary as a human image in her own right and these opposing ivory panels give the Virgin a pictorial status virtually equal to that of Christ. The idea of the Virgin’s humanity and accessibility is reflected in these 14th century images, which were intended as aids to prayer.
During this period these devotional carvings together with the cult of the Virgin became very popular and there was not a single country in Europe that was not creating ivory sculpture, or a Royal treasury or a cathedral sacristy without its supply of fashionable ivory products.