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Source Description
The plaque illustrates the first two scenes of the story of the Prodigal Son and should be read from bottom to top. In the first scene, the father divides his inheritance as the Prodigal, who is shown in an elegant hat, is observed by his mother and brother. Above, the Prodigal rides with his hawk, followed by a servant with a chest full of treasure. As they approach a young woman, the servant raises a warning finger.The scenes are set beneath canopies of trefoil arches. There are two holes drilled in the center at the sides for cords to attach the leaf to others. The back is recessed to receive a coat of wax for writing.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
22769
label
Wax Tablet with the Prodigal Son
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
2
Source metadata
id
22769
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Wax Tablet with the Prodigal Son
description
The plaque illustrates the first two scenes of the story of the Prodigal Son and should be read from bottom to top. In the first scene, the father divides his inheritance as the Prodigal, who is shown in an elegant hat, is observed by his mother and brother. Above, the Prodigal rides with his hawk, followed by a servant with a chest full of treasure. As they approach a young woman, the servant raises a warning finger.The scenes are set beneath canopies of trefoil arches. There are two holes drilled in the center at the sides for cords to attach the leaf to others. The back is recessed to receive a coat of wax for writing.
provenance
[Fictile cast in the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1873-165]; Max and Maurice Rosenheim, London [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Rosenheim Sale, Sotheby's, London, May 9-11, 1923, lot 294; William T. / Henry Walters Collection, Baltimore [date of acquisition unknown], by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
date
1330-1350 (Medieval)
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Ivory & Bone
wax tablets
imageCount
2
pageCount
2
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
11.6
height
6.3
dimensionsRaw
H: 4 9/16 x W: 2 1/2 in. (11.6 x 6.3 cm)
Source extras
cul
Medieval European
style
Gothic
med
ivory
creator_ids
6229
collection_ids
MED
exhibition_ids
2064
Page inventory
seq
1
type
photo
mediaId
c18d52de0b02a370
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
2
type
photo
mediaId
0ac39c1dd7dae816
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no