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Romanesque Byzantine style ivory Madonna and Child, 15th-17th century

Height x width of sculpture: 49 x 13 cm. Overall height x width: 70.5 x 46.5 cm. Total weight: 10100 g.
Ancient ivory sculpture of an elephant (Elephas maximus Linnaeus, 1758 or Loxodonta africana Blumenbach, 1797), carved to depict a Madonna and Child belonging to the Romanesque-Byzantine tradition. The work is set in a wooden aedicula, which serves as a sacred and protective frame.
The Madonna is depicted sitting majestically and frontally, with a rigid posture typical of Byzantine and Romanesque representations, while the Child is represented as a little king, sitting on his mother's lap, with a serious expression and a rigid posture. He holds in his hand a tablet with the inscription ‘REX EGO SUM CELN P.P.LI QUIDE MORTE’, a phrase evoking divine kingship and the prefiguration of Christ's sacrifice, which can be interpreted as ‘I am the King of the peoples risen (?) from the dead’. This inscription emphasises Christ's role as King and Saviour, who, even in his infancy, foreshadows the sacrifice of the cross. The features of the Child, although infantile, have an aura of majesty and authority, typical of the Byzantine tradition. The Latin inscription on the panel is a relevant iconographic element, emphasising the dualism between Christ's divine kingship and his destiny of death and resurrection. 
The fusion of Romanesque and Byzantine styles is reflected in the formal appearance of the sculpture. The rigour and frontality of the figures, the rigidity of the postures and the emphasis on iconicity rather than realism are typical of the Byzantine style, while the Romanesque influence is evident in the geometry and solidity of the forms. 
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 13:59:17
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€ 6.000,00 / 8.000,00
Estimate
1.800,00 €
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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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