Carved ivory plaque, Germany, early 16th century

Of rectangular shape with rounded corners, made of elephant ivory (Loxodonta africana Blumenbach, 1797 or Elephas maximus Linnaeus, 1758), finely carved in high relief to depict a knight in armour and a noblewoman.
The sculptor's focus is on the austerity of the physiognomy and the pose in armour aimed at representing power, embodied in the effigy, and loyalty depicted by the woman.
The full-length knight of noble social extraction is immortalised slightly three-quarter-length in sumptuous armour while holding a sword and resting his left foot on a lion while the lady is placed on top of a dog.
The themes of strength, virile prowess, and the boldness of arms and armour became highly topical in the 16th century, the golden age of portraiture, suggesting that being portrayed in arms was a real necessity to impose one's status and to convey an image of authority and the legitimate exercise of power.
On the reverse are the inscriptions "N.T.V.O.A. - 1518"' and possibly an unidentified noble coat of arms.

Item condition grading: **** good, minor defects to the upper right corner and a fracture on the left side.