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Plaque from a Portable Altar: Christ and the Apostles
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These intricately carved ivory panels once decorated the sides of a portable altar. Three of the plaques, those depicting Christ in Majesty and his apostles, were the first major acquisition of William M. Milliken, the museum's first curator of decorative arts and later director (1930–1958). As Milliken later recalled, the pieces "were immensely intriguing, monumental in scale, even if tiny in size, the Christ in the mandorla could have been enlarged and would have graced the tympanum of a great cathedral."
| Artist / Maker | Anonymous, 11th century |
|---|---|
| Date | 1050–1100 |
| Culture / Origin | Germany, Lower Rhine Valley, Romanesque period, 11th century |
| Medium | walrus ivory |
| Dimensions | Overall: 5.1 x 16.5 cm (2 x 6 1/2 in.) |
| Department | Medieval Art |
| Type | Ivory |
About the Artist
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
A detailed condition report and high-resolution photography are available from our specialists in advance of the sale.
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