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Which useful objects were decorated with ivory carvings during the Gothic period?
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ivory carving
Kinugumiut Inupiat incised walrus ivory shaman's figure, c. 1890; in the National Museum of the American Indian, George Gustav Heye Center, Smithsonian Institution, New York City.
During the Gothic period, while the artistic focus shifted toward monumental architecture and stained glass, ivory carving remained a significant craft for producing both religious and secular items. Workshops continued to create religious diptychs and triptychs featuring sacred scenes.1
Beyond religious objects, ivory was frequently carved into a variety of utilitarian and decorative items, including:
- Caskets
- Combs
- Mirror cases
- Writing tablets
- Cups
- Dagger handles
- Chess pieces
These objects were often decorated with intricate carvings, sometimes depicting themes of courtly love or scenes from popular romances.1