German, probably Upper Rhine, second half 14th century

with Albrecht Neuhaus Kunsthandel, Würzburg, 1986;
private collection, Switzerland

Kunst & Antiquitäten, III, May 1986, pp. 106-107;
Weltkunst, IX, June 1986

Overall the condition of the ivory is good with dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. Christ's proper right hand is lost. There is a small loss to the arcading of the bottom right register. There are a number of smaller losses to the relief, including to some of the details on the arcading. There are a few stable hairline splits consistent with the material. There is wear to the ivory around the hinges, which are later. Two rings for hanging are mounted to the top edges on the reverse of each panel. Parts of the polychromy may be later.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The present diptych with each panel carved in three registers follows French late 14th-century conventions but includes details which are more suggestive of a Rhenish origin. Note in particular the Dormition scene in the bottom left hand register and the Last Judgement in the bottom right with the inclusion of 'wild man' devils. This inclusion of a hairy, bird claw beast is predominantly found on secular ivories such as the Castle of Love and Enyas caskets (inv. nos. 1988.16 and 17.190.173) in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and is also seen in medieval ecclesiastical manuscripts.

RELATED LITERATURE
P. Barnet, Images in Ivory, exhib. cat. Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, 1997, cat. no. 208; T. Husband, The Wild Man, Medieval Myth and Symbolism, exhib. cat. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1980, pp. 2-3, no. 11