Three Gothic ivories for the Museum Schnütgen in Cologne

30/7/24 - Acquisitions - Cologne, Museum Schnütgen - Continuing its noble quest for precious objects, the Rhineland institution is interested in both rock crystal, hosting from 2022 a first version of the exhibition later seen at the Musée de Cluny (see article), and ivory, a material in the spotlight since January. A small focus exhibition brings together three fine pieces recently acquired from the Paris gallery Brimo de Laroussilhe. The first (ill. 1 and 2) would undoubtedly have worked wonders in the Louvre, where its counterpart (ill. 2) has been kept since the mid-nineteenth century, as Raymond Koechlin predicted as early as 1912.

1. Paris (?), circa 1280-1300
Right leaf of a diptych: scenes from the Passion of Christ
Ivory, traces of polychromy - 18.4 x 9.2 x 1 cm