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Diptych With Virgin and Angels and the Crucifixion

Culture
French
Date
1340–60
Material
Ivory
possibly made in
France, Europe
possibly made in
Belgium, Europe
Classification
Ivories, sculpture
Current Location
On View, Gallery 237
Dimensions
3 x 4 x 3/8 in. (7.6 x 10.2 x 1 cm)
image (each panel): 3 x 2 x 3/8 in. (7.6 x 5.1 x 1 cm)
Credit Line
Museum Purchase
Rights
Public Domain
Object Number
493:1955
NOTES
The minute scale of this folding diptych, or two-panel work, indicates both the expense and popularity of elephant ivory in 14th-century France. With just a few inches of material, the artist created a complicated devotional scene with Mary and her son Jesus on the left and the Crucifixion on the right. The diptych was designed to fit in the palm of the hand and required close looking by its user. Due to high costs and limited availability, artists carved increasingly elaborate objects from small pieces of ivory to meet a growing demand for such works.
by 1912 - 1955
Émile Baboin 1860-1930), Lyons, France; Aimé Baboin (1888-1985), Lyons, France, by inheritance [1]

1955
R. Stora and Company, New York, NY, USA, on consignment from Aimé Baboin [2]

1955 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from R. Stora and Company [3]


Notes:
[1] The sculpture is listed in the 1912 publication of the Baboin collection [Koechlin, Raymond. "Ivoires Gothiques: Collection Emile Baboin," cat. no. 6].

[2] An undated stock sheet from R. Stora and Company notes that the object was on consignment from Aimé Baboin. The name refers to Émile's son who presumably inherited the object upon his father's death [undated stock sheet, SLAM document files].

[3] See note [2]. Bill of sale from R. Stora and Company [dated January 14, 1956, SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Administrative Board of Control of the City Art Museum, December 8, 1955.

We regularly update records, which may be incomplete. If you have additional information, please contact us at provenance@slam.org.