Ivory Angels, Winchester City Museum

Ivory Angels, Winchester City Museum

Archaeology

Working as a volunteer in Winchester City Museum has given me the opportunity to record treasures that might be missed on a quick visit — like this tiny 76 mm by 48 mm carved walrus ivory panel. It was possibly made to embellish a keyhole at the top of a box. As I began to draw, realised that the sculptor had generated a kind of joyous energy by repeatedly carving sinuous "S" shapes into the drapery, the arms and especially in those wiggling feet. My sepia version on the right is correctly positioned but posters often show it upside down (left) possibly because the angels look happier rising rather than falling. They aren't actually falling at all, but emulate a medieval illustration of the time where angels descend to the baptism of the infant Jesus. And those large hands aren't just my lack of skill, they're another characteristic of this style, which flourished in the peace following Alfred's reign and became known as "The Winchester School".

John Hicks

Late 10th Century

English

2008-12-01