Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Mirror Case with Attack on the Castle of Love
(Medieval Europe )
The popularity of ivory luxury goods reached its height around 1350, but they were made well into the 15th century. Associated with intimacy, mirrors were often given as courting gifts. A portable mirror consisted of a case in two parts with a polished metal disk fitted inside.
In this allegorical battle scene, knights attack ladies in a castle using catapults and crossbows that launch flowers. The ladies also shower their adversaries with flowers dropped from buckets. The god of love presides over all. A single knight has reached his lady by scaling the wall. This scene and those of the knights riding away may be three moments in an elopement narrative. The case originally had fantastic animals forming the four corners.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
Treasury of the Cistercian Abbey of Rein, Styria; Jacques Seligmann, Paris, 1928, by purchase; Henry Walters, Baltimore, December 1, 1928, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Exhibitions
| 2016-2017 | A Feast for the Senses: Art and Experience in Medieval Europe. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore; The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota. |
| 2002 | The Book of Kings: Art, War, and the Morgan Library's Medieval Picture Bible. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore; Academy Art Museum, Easton; Princeton University Art Museum, Princeton; The Mitchell Gallery, Annapolis; Williams College Museum of Art, Williamstown. |
| 1998-2001 | Highlights from the Collection. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. |
| 1997 | Images in Ivory: Precious Objects of the Gothic Age. The Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit; The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. |
| 1995-1996 | Medieval Games of Love and War. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. |
| 1984-1985 | Illuminated Manuscripts: Masterpieces in Miniature. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. |
Conservation
| Date | Description | Narrative |
|---|---|---|
| 1/11/1962 | Treatment | cleaned |
| 10/1/1984 | Treatment | cleaned |
| 9/11/1995 | Treatment | cleaned; loss compensation |
| 9/13/1995 | Loan Consideration | examined for loan |
Geographies
France (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 5 3/16 × W: 5 × D: 3/8 in. (13.2 × 12.7 × 1 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by Henry Walters, 1928
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
71.169