Accession number
MS M.1099
Object title
Bone or ivory calendar (MS M.1099).
Display Date
ca. 1500.
Created
Scandinavia, ca. 1500.
Binding
Ivory leaves held together by twisted white leather strip strung through two holes and tied; in blue fitted box case lined with brown velvet.
Description
10 leaves, strung together : bone or ivory, ill. ; 78 x 58 mm
Provenance
Acquired before 1924.
Notes
Ms. calendar, perhaps of walrus ivory, incised and filled in with red and black coloring agents, made perhaps in Scandinavia, ca. 1500.
Decoration: fol. 1: Outer front cover incised with 2-register composition, on the vertical, with patterned border; at top the bound Christ brought by soldiers before a crowned, enthroned figure; at bottom Christ brought before enthroned secular judge; fol. 1v: inner front cover: horizontal composition with patterned border: Christ in Judgement at center, surrounded by groups of holy figures; fol. 2, 2v: charts with 6 small wheels inscribed with runes and sigla; fol. 3: chart with large wheel flanked by angels, below, a table of runes, on the vertical. Then follows on fols. 3v-9 the calendars for January-December, each with full-length figures carrying attributes and busts, representing saints and others commemorated in the month; fol. 9v: Chart with runes/Dominical letters/golden numbers; fol. 10, inside back cover, horizontal composition: Crowned Madonna and Child standing before throne, flanked by standing censing angels, musical figures at lower corners; flying angels flanking Madonna's head, reaching out towards crown; behind flying angels what appears to be blank shields for possible coats of arms; framed with pattern border; fol. 10v, outside back cover, vertical composition in 2 registers, upper framed on 3 sides with patterned border: the Crucifixtion with the Virgin and St. John; lower register with abstract composition composed of figures and busts and symbolic attributes, all of which occur inside in the calendar decoration. Looks like a pictographic riddle.
Decoration: fol. 1: Outer front cover incised with 2-register composition, on the vertical, with patterned border; at top the bound Christ brought by soldiers before a crowned, enthroned figure; at bottom Christ brought before enthroned secular judge; fol. 1v: inner front cover: horizontal composition with patterned border: Christ in Judgement at center, surrounded by groups of holy figures; fol. 2, 2v: charts with 6 small wheels inscribed with runes and sigla; fol. 3: chart with large wheel flanked by angels, below, a table of runes, on the vertical. Then follows on fols. 3v-9 the calendars for January-December, each with full-length figures carrying attributes and busts, representing saints and others commemorated in the month; fol. 9v: Chart with runes/Dominical letters/golden numbers; fol. 10, inside back cover, horizontal composition: Crowned Madonna and Child standing before throne, flanked by standing censing angels, musical figures at lower corners; flying angels flanking Madonna's head, reaching out towards crown; behind flying angels what appears to be blank shields for possible coats of arms; framed with pattern border; fol. 10v, outside back cover, vertical composition in 2 registers, upper framed on 3 sides with patterned border: the Crucifixtion with the Virgin and St. John; lower register with abstract composition composed of figures and busts and symbolic attributes, all of which occur inside in the calendar decoration. Looks like a pictographic riddle.
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