panel; casket

Unknown artist

10th C-11th C

ivory; carved; relief; pierced

British Museum

A carved ivory panel depicts a scene with multiple figures. On the left, a seated figure blesses two children. On the right, several figures attend to a person lying on a decorated table. Panel from a casket; ivory; two scenes from the history of Joseph; Jacob blessing Ephraim and Manasseh, and the death of Jacob; on the left the Patriarch, with long hair and a beard, is seated with arms crossed and hands resting upon the heads of two boys; in the background stand four of his sons; in the scene on the right, the corpse of the Patriarch lies on a… high table or bier; at the head stands Joseph, and behind the bier four of Joseph's brothers (their head-dresses appear oriental in character); only a small part of the border remains and seems to have been a pierced acanthus pattern.View more about description Compare with