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Carved ivory foldable diptych ball, France, Dieppe (?) 19th century

Diameter x width opened: 5.9 x 11.6 cm. Weight: 158 g
elephant ivory (Elephas maximus Linnaeus, 1758 or Loxodonta africana Blumenbach, 1797). The outside is carved in the round in four sections with stylised flowers, the inside depicts the blessing of a new knight with the handing over of the sword.

Openable spherical diptychs were essentially manufactured in France and Germany between the 18th and 19th centuries, taking up the tradition of the Prayer nuts. The English term Prayer nut or Prayer beads is derived from equivalent Dutch word gebedsnoot, and took on common usage in the 18th century. The use of the word "nut" may come from the fact that some of the beads were actually carved from nuts or pits, practice in medieval southern Germany. They are typically openable into halves and carved inside of highly detailed and intricate Christian religious scenes or historical Scene. Their size varies between the 2 and 5 cm in diameter, mostly the same shape, decorated on the outside with carved openwork Gothic tracery and flower-heads. They often contain central scenes depicting episodes from the life of Mary or the Passion of Jesus and in some instances, they contain carved inscriptions usually related to the meaning of the narrative.
This lot, accompanied by a CITES certificate and expertise issued by Ce.S.Ar Centro studi archeometici, is only available for sale with shipments within the European Union.
23/01/2025 23:23:38
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200,00 €
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Curiosities from European and Oriental art
Silvers, Ivories, Corals, Icons, and Wunderkammer

Palazzo Caetani Lovatelli, tue 25 February 2025
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