KENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY  -- RESEARCH   Studying and sharing Kent's past      Homepage

Archaeologia Cantiana -  Vol. 94  1978  page 96
Excavations on the Site of Leeds Priory. Part 2 The Claustral Buildings and Other Remains  By P. J. Tester, continued.

APPENDIX  V

IVORY CARVING (Plates VII and VIII)

               JOHN G. BECKWITH, F.B.A., F.S.A.
This small walrus ivory carving was found about 2 ft. below ground near the south-west corner of the south transept. It is 7.l6cm. in height, 6.35 cm. wide and 3.49 cm. in depth.17
   According to Miss Anne Moncrieff, Department of Conservation, Victoria and Albert Museum, there is still organic material present in it but also a lot of calcium carbonate and silica. Some of these minerals would have been present in the original ivory, but it is probably partially mineralized - that is organic materials (silica and carbonates) have been deposited in the porous ivory structure from water soaking into it in the soil. The presence of these minerals accounts for the weight of the object which is greater than unaltered ivory and may also explain the feel and texture which is not like that of old ivory. There is iron present which may be the cause of the red-brown colour but this could also be due to decayed organic material in the soil. It is not possible to tell from the degree of mineralization how long the object has been buried but some considerable length of time would seem likely.
   The carving must originally have represented the Virgin and Child enthroned, the upper side figures presumably 

represented angels, and the standing figures saints. The patron saints of Leeds Priory are not fully known but St. Nicholas was one of them. The three seated figures on the back of the throne are probably the three cardinal virtues. The closest comparable object would appear to be an ivory carving of the Adoration of the Magi, now in the British Museum, dating from the second decade of the thirteenth century but it has no figures carved on the back.18 In the same museum a chess-piece carved with a representation of a bishop, David as a musician and two ecclesiastics, dating from the early thirteenth century, has however a similar grouping on the back.19 The carving found at Leeds Priory is in such a state that precise stylistic assessment is well-nigh impossible but a date in the late thirteenth century seems reasonable. There appears to be no doubt of its English origin.
                     [See Plates VII and Plate VIII]
   17 I have discussed the carving with Mr. Richard Camber, Department of Medieval and Later Antiquities, British Museum, who agrees with me on my finding.
   18  M. Dalton, Catalogue of the Ivory Carvings.. . in the British Museum, London, 1909, no. 248; M. H. Longhurst, English Ivory Carvings, London, 1926, no. xlv; New York, The Metropolitan Museum, The Year 1200, Catalogue 1970, no. 66.
   19 Dalton, Catalogue no. 245. I have been reminded of this reference by Mr. Dean A. Porter, Curator of the Art Gallery, University of Notre Dame, Indiana, who is working on a thesis on English Gothic Ivory Carvings.

Page 96  (This page prepared for the Website by Ted Connell)                    

Previous page       Back to Page listings       Next page

Back the Contents page   Back to Arch. Cant. List   Back to Publications On-line  Back to Research Page  Back to Homepage

This site is hosted by nVeracity      Kent Archaeological Society is a registered charity number 223382
© Kent Archaeological Society 2003     

This website is constructed by enthusiastic amateurs. Any errors noticed by other researchers will be to gratefully received so
 that we can amend our pages to give an accurate record as possible. Please send details too research@kentarchaeology.org.uk