France, probablement Paris deuxieme quart du XIVe siecle

Collection J.-Ch. Seguin, Paris
sa vente à Paris, décembre 1910, lot 358

Exposition d'objets d'art du Moyen Age et de la Renaissance, Hôtel de Sagan, Paris, 1913

R. Koechlin, Les ivoires gothiques français, Paris 1924, no. 1021.
Exposition d'objets d'art du Moyen Age et de la Renaissance organisée par la marquise de Ganay chez Jacques Seligman,   Hôtel de Sagan, cat. exp., Paris, 1913, no. 117.

Overall condition good with wear consistant with age. Pierced below the rim at 12 o'clock with small section missing below mouth of front horse caused by a chip on the back. The back with section missing on outer rim at the top.
"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 figures de dragons accroupis aux longues oreilles. La scène qui occupe tout l'espace évoque le thème classique du couple d'amants chevauchant: la femme coiffée "en escouffins" fouette nonchalamment la croupe de sa monture tandis que l'homme qui chevauche à ses côtés porte un faucon sur son poing. Cette scène galante inspirée du Roman de la Rose est fréquemment représentée sur les valves de miroir gothiques, dont il existe des exemples comparables à la Walters Art Gallery de Baltimore (Randall, 1985, no.329) et au Victoria and Albert Museum de Londres (Longhurst, 1929, tome .II, pl. XLII), ainsi qu'au musée de Münster (inv. no. G.15.WKV).

REFERENCES BIBLIOGRAPHIQUES
M. Longhurst, Catalogue of Carving in Ivory, Victoria and Albert Museum, Londres, 1929, tome. II, pl. XLII.
R. H. Randall, Masterpieces of Ivory from the Walters Art Gallery, 1985, fig. 329.

FRENCH, PROBABLY PARIS, SECOND QUARTER 14TH CENTURY
AN IVORY MIRROR BACK WITH A YOUNG COUPLE ON HORSEBACK

The mirror back is carved with a man and woman on horseback. The man is holding a falcon in his left hand whilst the woman holds a whip over the rear of the horse with her right; four grotesque crouching monsters are on the corners. The subject, inspired by the stories of the Roman de la Rose, was a popular one for mirror cases and can be found on several examples including one in the Art Institute Chicago illustrated by Randall, one in the Victoria and Albert Museum illustrated by Longhurst (pl. XLII) and another in Münster Museum (inv. no. G.15 WKV).