Plaque with the Trinity and the Dormition of the Virgin

ca. 1410–20
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 306
In the lower register, Christ holds the soul of his mother and blesses her body as the surrounding Apostles mourn. In the upper register, Christ appears as the crucified Son, with God the Father enthroned and the Holy Ghost as a dove. The plaque may have been worn as personal adornment: similar "micro-carvings" survive in jeweled frames suspended on chains. References to "locket reliquaries" suggest that they may also have contained tiny relics. Alternatively, the carving may have been affixed to a larger reliquary or monstrance.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Plaque with the Trinity and the Dormition of the Virgin
  • Date: ca. 1410–20
  • Geography: Made in Paris, France
  • Culture: French
  • Medium: Elephant ivory with traces of polychromy
  • Dimensions: Overall: 2 11/16 x 2 1/4 x 1 3/16 in. (6.9 x 5.7 x 3 cm)
  • Classification: Ivories-Elephant
  • Credit Line: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Maxime Levy Hermanos, 1979
  • Object Number: 1979.521.3
  • Curatorial Department: Medieval Art and The Cloisters

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