1000 (ivory); late 11th century (setting)
Town Constantinople (ivory),
Turkey
Turkey
Object qualities
-
Objectbook / magazine / album: Book cover plaque
-
Type of arts & crafts
-
MediumSilver-gilt with pseudo-filigree, glass, crystal, and sapphire cabochons, ivory on wood support
-
SizeOverall: 10 3/8 x 8 5/8 x 1 in. (26.4 x 21.9 x 2.5 cm)
-
Geography detailsMade in
Town Constantinople (ivory),
Turkey -
Country today
-
Date1000 (ivory); late 11th century (setting)
-
CultureByzantine (ivory); Spanish (setting)
Source of information
-
Type of sourceDatabase “Metropolitan Museum of Art”
-
Fund that the source refers toMetropolitan Museum of Art
Description
-
Byzantine ivories were highly prized in western Europe, where they survived in church treasuries or were incorporated into deluxe book bindings. The ivory from the panel on the left originally formed the center of a Byzantine three-paneled icon. It may have been one of the many gifts to the Nunnery of Santa Cruz de la Serós, which was founded by Queen Felicia (d. 1085), wife of Sancho V Ramírez (r. 1076–94), king of Aragon and Navarre. The sumptuous cover also contains a sapphire seal, located to the right of Saint John, inscribed in Arabic with four of the ninety-nine “Beautiful Names” of God.