Pastoral Staff Head
1320-1340 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is an ivory head of a pastoral staff made in about 1320-1340 in France, probably Paris or possibly Italian under French influence. This head is unusual amongst French fourteenth century examples in containing only one subject. Also the dragon head from which the volute emanates is rather rare on French croziers, although not on Italian ones.
The volute, carved with vine foliage with an outstanding leaf at the corners, issues from the mouth of a serpent and encloses the standing figure of the Virgin holding the Child attended by two angels bearing candlesticks.
The name crozier is commonly used for the crook-shaped pastoral staff of a bishop or abbot. It forms part of their insignia.
It was carried as a symbol of authority and pastoral care. It was made of various materials , but by the twelfth century ivory was in widespread use for the head of the crozier. The shaft was often made of wood, occasionally embellished with metal knops, although on Italian Gothic examples, ivory and bone cylinders were used in construction. French Gothic ivory crozier heads are predominantly of one design, with the Crucifixion and the Virgin and St John on one side and the Virgin and Child , flanked by candle-bearing angels, on the other. It appears that the principal face was that to be seen when the volute of the crozier was facing to the right.
The volute, carved with vine foliage with an outstanding leaf at the corners, issues from the mouth of a serpent and encloses the standing figure of the Virgin holding the Child attended by two angels bearing candlesticks.
The name crozier is commonly used for the crook-shaped pastoral staff of a bishop or abbot. It forms part of their insignia.
It was carried as a symbol of authority and pastoral care. It was made of various materials , but by the twelfth century ivory was in widespread use for the head of the crozier. The shaft was often made of wood, occasionally embellished with metal knops, although on Italian Gothic examples, ivory and bone cylinders were used in construction. French Gothic ivory crozier heads are predominantly of one design, with the Crucifixion and the Virgin and St John on one side and the Virgin and Child , flanked by candle-bearing angels, on the other. It appears that the principal face was that to be seen when the volute of the crozier was facing to the right.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Carved elephant ivory |
| Brief description | Head of a crozier, ivory, Virgin and Child with angels, French (probably Paris) or possibly Italian under French influence, 1320-1340 |
| Physical description | The head of ivory pastoral staff carved in full relief with the Virgin and Child. The pierced volute is carved with vine leaves at the corners (back to back), and contains the standing crowned Virgin holding the half-naked Christ-Child, flanked by angels with tall candles (no candlesticks). The three figures stand on a plain ground carved above the lower curve of the volute. The volute issues from the mouth of a dog-like dragon with lion's mane, made from a rectangular-shaped section of ivory. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | In the collection of Prince Petr Soltykoff, Paris, until 1861; bought by John Webb, London, at the Soltykoff sale (Soltykoff 1861, lot 202 bis); purchased from Webb in 1867 for £96. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This is an ivory head of a pastoral staff made in about 1320-1340 in France, probably Paris or possibly Italian under French influence. This head is unusual amongst French fourteenth century examples in containing only one subject. Also the dragon head from which the volute emanates is rather rare on French croziers, although not on Italian ones. The volute, carved with vine foliage with an outstanding leaf at the corners, issues from the mouth of a serpent and encloses the standing figure of the Virgin holding the Child attended by two angels bearing candlesticks. The name crozier is commonly used for the crook-shaped pastoral staff of a bishop or abbot. It forms part of their insignia. It was carried as a symbol of authority and pastoral care. It was made of various materials , but by the twelfth century ivory was in widespread use for the head of the crozier. The shaft was often made of wood, occasionally embellished with metal knops, although on Italian Gothic examples, ivory and bone cylinders were used in construction. French Gothic ivory crozier heads are predominantly of one design, with the Crucifixion and the Virgin and St John on one side and the Virgin and Child , flanked by candle-bearing angels, on the other. It appears that the principal face was that to be seen when the volute of the crozier was facing to the right. |
| Associated object | CIRC.429-1911 (Copy) |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 297-1867 |
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| Record created | August 26, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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