France, Paris, vers 1350-1375

Collection Frédéric Spitzer, sa vente à Paris, 1893
Collection Maurice Kann, sa vente à la Galerie George Petit, Paris 5-8 Décembre 1910, lot 221

La collection Spitzer, Antiquité, Moyen Age, Renaissance, 1890-92, tome. 1, no. 67.
R.Koechlin, Les ivoires gothiques français, Paris 1924, pl.XLXXVII,  no. 1014.
P.Barnet, Images in Ivory, Precious Objects of the Gothic Age, cat. exp. Detroit Institute of Arts, 1997, pp. 235-236, reproduit fig. 60a.

Overall condition good and wear consistent with age with minor surface dirt in the crevices. The outer rim on back of the mirror has a four cm section of the screw fitting missing. The top has been pierced with two fine drilled holes presumably for later attachment. Three of the lions show fine hairline cracks to their tails one of which is restored.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

La valve de miroir est cantonnée par quatre lions, finement sculptés en ronde-bosse. Les branches de l'arbre au centre divisent la plaque en quatre compartiments polylobés avec quatres scènes courtoises se terminant par la scène de l'offrande du cœur. Aux écoinçons sont gravés des masques grimaçants.

Les valves de miroir apparaissent en général par paire afin de protéger le disque de métal poli servant de miroir. Le pendant de cette belle plaque sculptée est très probablement la valve conservée au Metropolitan Museum de New York (inv. no. 41.100.160). Daté vers 1350-1375, l'ivoire de New York représente sur sa face un couple de fauconniers à cheval, accompagnés de deux valets (Little, dans Barnet, no. 60). On retrouve le même encadrement à huit demi-lobes avec les écoinçons ornés de masques grotesques. Les quatre lions selon Little sont sculptés de manière à faire face aux quatre autres figurant sur le pendant de la collection Dormeuil. Les deux valves appartenaient autrefois au collectionneur Frédéric Spitzer à Paris et furent séparées lors de la dispersion de sa collection en 1893.

FRENCH, PARIS, CIRCA 1350-1375
AN IVORY MIRROR BACK WITH COURTING SCENES

This mirror back has four lions around the frame. It is centred by a tree dividing the composition into four scenes symbolising the stages of love and culminating in the young man offering his heart. It is carved within an octolobate frame with grotesque masks.

Ivory mirror cases were usually made in pairs in order to protect the polished metal disk contained within. The other half of the present case is most probably the one in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (inv. no. 41.100.160) dated circa 1350-1375 and discussed by Little in Barnet's Detroit catalogue. The case in the Metropolitan Museum of Art is carved with a couple on horseback holding falcons and each flanked by an attendant. It is similarly set within an octolobate frame with grotesque masks and four lions. As Little suggests, when joined, these lions would have confronted one another. Both halves were in the Frédéric Spitzer collection and were separated at the collection's sale of 1893.