Cloisters acquires 14th-century secular ivories

Meant to post this NY Times notice the other day, but better late than never:

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has acquired a group of intricately carved ivories of hunting scenes, knights, castles and lovers from the early 14th century for the Cloisters, its medieval branch in Fort Tryon Park.

"Occasionally there has been a single piece available for sale, but for a group of this quality and importance to come along is especially rare," said Peter Barnet, the curator in charge of medieval art at the Metropolitan and the Cloisters. "Together they represent the most important acquisition of secular ivories in at least 50 years."

Secular Gothic ivories have been a serious gap in the Cloisters collection, Mr. Barnet said. The last group of medieval ivories that the museum acquired was bought from Ernst Kofler, a Swiss dealer, in 1970 and '71. The group, which included 13th- and 14th-century religious ivories, lacked any secular objects.

The latest acquisitions come from the collection of the princes of Oettingen-Wallerstein, who had them on view for decades at the family's castles in southern Germany. While the museum won't say where it bought the ivories, art experts say they came from Rudigier Alte Kunst, Munich dealers who were representing members of the Oettingen-Wallerstein family.

Posted by David on April 19, 2003 10:06 PM