French Gothic Ivories

This volume is the first to consider the golden century of Gothic ivory sculpture (1230–1330) in its material, theological, and artistic contexts. Providing a range of new sources and interpretations, Sarah M. Guérin charts the progressive development and deepening of material resonances expressed in these small-scale carvings. Guérin traces the journey of ivory tusks from the intercontinental trade routes that delivered the raw material to northern Europe, to the workbenches of specialist artisans in medieval Paris, and, ultimately, to the altars and private chapels in which these objects were venerated. She also studies the rich social lives and uses of a diverse range of artworks fashioned from ivory, including standalone statuettes, diptychs, tabernacles, and altarpieces. Offering new insights into the meanings that ivory sculptures held for their makers and viewers, Guérin’s study contributes to our understanding of the history of materials, craft, and later medieval devotional practices.

Sarah M. Guérin is Assistant Professor of Medieval Art History at the University of Pennsylvania.