Box — Fragment of a Circular Ivory box, Alexandria, 5th century to 6th century
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
5th century to 6th century
Box in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (museum number A.14-1942), made in Alexandria, dated 5th century to 6th century. The museum's brief description reads: Pyxis (box), a fragment, carved ivory, probably Alexandria, coptic, 5th or early 6th century.
Museum description: Fragment of a circular ivory box, carved in relief with an angel and a lion. This curved fragment from the side of a small round box shows the right an angel with right arm outstretched to touch the head of a seated lion. The surface is chipped. The museum records it as Carved ivory, measuring Height 4.1 cm; Width 4 cm. These details come from the museum's own record; how far this object represents a wider collectible type has not yet been independently verified.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
This curved fragment from the side of a small round box shows to the right an angel with right arm outstretched to touch the head of a seated lion. It is probably the right hand part of a scene from the history of Daniel. The fragment was acquired in Cairo, and there is no reason not to view it as Coptic, probably carved in Alexandria in the late fifth or early sixth century.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- ivory
- Dimensions
- Height 4.1 cm; Width 4 cm
Technical characteristics
- Technique
- Carved ivory
- Place recorded
- Alexandria
Identification
- Museum object name
- Box
- Museum object number
- A.14-1942
- Museum system number
- O313121
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type, maker and catalogue references against a specialist reference.