Circular ivory medallion framed by fantastical animal figures. The medallion is engraved with a tree and characters on its branches.

Mirror case: The god of love shooting his arrows at four couples in love, Cl. 23949 © GrandPalaisRmn / Michel Urtado

Mirror case

The god of love shooting his arrows at four couples in love

Description

Not on display

14th century

Late Middle Ages

This ivory mirror case cover features the allegorical iconography of the god of love.

He is sat at the top of a gnarled tree, the trunk of which and two main branches divide the area into four "chambers" of greenery. In each of them there is a couple of lovers, whom the god aims his arrows at.

This mirror case cover comes from the collection of Victor Martin Le Roy, which was passed down to his son-in-law Jean-Joseph Marquet de Vasselot, who was director of Department of Decorative Arts at the Louvre and the Musée de Cluny from 1926 to 1933.
 

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