Mirror Back with Falconing Party, 1350–1375
French; Possibly made in Paris
Elephant ivory
Technical Glossary
French; Possibly made in Paris
Elephant ivory
H. 4 5/16 in. (11 cm), Diam. 4 3/8 in. (11.1 cm)
Gift of George Blumenthal, 1941 (41.100.160)
Ivory mirror cases were usually carved in pairs to protect a polished metal disk within. Often mentioned in inventories and wills, few pairs survive, and none with its protective leather case. As forerunners of the modern cosmetic compact, they were destined primarily for aristocratic owners. Likely carved in Paris in the mid-fourteenth century, this example depicts men and ladies in a forest as they hunt with falcons. The link between the sport of falconry and courtly love was a frequent subject in medieval literature, so the playful imagery on the mirror back can also be read as a hunt for love.
