Unknown man thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Unknown man

Bust
ca. 1680-1700 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Germany (made)

This ivory bust, made by an unknown artist in the 17th century in North Germany, represents an unknown man with a long curling wig. The face of this bust may have been re-carved.


Object details

Categories
Sculpture
Portraits
SCRAN
Object type
Bust
TitleUnknown man (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Carved ivory
Brief description
Bust, carved ivory, of an unknown man, North Germany, ca. 1680-1700
Physical description
Carved ivory bust of a man. The man has a long curling wig and turns slightly to the left. He wears a plain shirt just open at the throat, and classical drapery about the shoulders and stumps of the arms. On a small pedestal.
Dimensions
  • Height: 14.8cm
Object history
Historical significance: This carving shows a sculptural quality unusual in small portraits of this class. The face may have been recarved.

Bought for 38 from Sprink & Son, London in 1925.
Subject depicted
Man
Summary
This ivory bust, made by an unknown artist in the 17th century in North Germany, represents an unknown man with a long curling wig. The face of this bust may have been re-carved.
Bibliographic references
  • Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Carvings in Ivory. London: Published under the Authority of the Board of Education, 1927-1929, Part II. p. 74
  • Knuth, Michael. 'Der Berliner David mit dem Haupt des Goliath: Eine Bronzetauette von Andreas Schlüter'. In: Krahn, Volker, ed., Von allen Seiten schön : Rückblicke auf Ausstellung und Kolloquium. Cologne, 1996, pp. 82, 93, fig. 7
  • Rasmussen, Jörg, Barockplastik in Norddeutschland, Hamburg: Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg, 1977.
  • Trusted, Marjorie, Baroque & Later Ivories, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 2013, cat. no. 33
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
A.72-1925

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Record createdNovember 1, 2004
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O106936/unknown-man-bust-unknown/
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