Ask the Scholar

Page 1 of 1
I can add historical knowledge about this page.

Page image

Page 1

Document source description

Similar plaques of whale bone carved with confronted monster heads are found frequently in the graves of wealthy Viking women in Norway. The monster heads, similar to the figureheads attached to Viking ship prows, are typical of Viking decoration. The function of these plaques is not clear; it has been suggested that they were used as ironing-boards or for pleating linen (by folding and winding it around the board while wet and then leaving it to dry), or as trenchers for serving food.

Page data

Page
1
Source index
0
Type
photo
Media ID
ced197b6fbce269e
Size
unknown

Document data

ID
11104
Core
obj
Type
object
DTO data
{
    "id": "11104",
    "sourceUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/71.1169",
    "contentType": "object",
    "stage": "normalized",
    "title": "Whale-Bone Plaque",
    "description": "Similar plaques of whale bone carved with confronted monster heads are found frequently in the graves of wealthy Viking women in Norway.  The monster heads, similar to the figureheads attached to Viking ship prows, are typical of Viking decoration.  The function of these plaques is not clear; it has been suggested that they were used as ironing-boards or for pleating linen (by folding and winding it around the board while wet and then leaving it to dry), or as trenchers for serving food.",
    "provenance": "Sale, Christie's, London, July 8, 1981, lot 23; David Inc., Vadus, Liechtenstein; Walters Art Museum, April 1983, by purchase.",
    "date": "8th-late 9th century (Medieval)",
    "citationUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/71.1169",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "genreSpecific": [
        "Ivory & Bone",
        "plaques"
    ],
    "iiifBase": "https://art.thewalters.org/images/art/PS1_71.1169_Fnt_DD_T07.jpg",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://art.thewalters.org/images/art/PS1_71.1169_Fnt_DD_T07.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://art.thewalters.org/images/art/PS1_71.1169_Fnt_DD_T07.jpg",
    "imageCount": 1,
    "pageCount": 1,
    "source": "import",
    "dimensions": [
        {
            "units": "cm",
            "width": 22,
            "height": 18.3,
            "depth": 0.8
        }
    ],
    "dimensionsRaw": "8 11/16 x 7 3/16 x 5/16 in. (22 x 18.3 x 0.8 cm)"
}

Context sent to Scholar

Document identity
{
    "localId": "11104",
    "label": "Whale-Bone Plaque",
    "core": "obj",
    "dtoType": "object",
    "citationUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/71.1169"
}
Document source metadata
{
    "id": "11104",
    "sourceUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/71.1169",
    "contentType": "object",
    "stage": "normalized",
    "title": "Whale-Bone Plaque",
    "description": "Similar plaques of whale bone carved with confronted monster heads are found frequently in the graves of wealthy Viking women in Norway.  The monster heads, similar to the figureheads attached to Viking ship prows, are typical of Viking decoration.  The function of these plaques is not clear; it has been suggested that they were used as ironing-boards or for pleating linen (by folding and winding it around the board while wet and then leaving it to dry), or as trenchers for serving food.",
    "provenance": "Sale, Christie's, London, July 8, 1981, lot 23; David Inc., Vadus, Liechtenstein; Walters Art Museum, April 1983, by purchase.",
    "date": "8th-late 9th century (Medieval)",
    "citationUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/71.1169",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "genreSpecific": [
        "Ivory & Bone",
        "plaques"
    ],
    "iiifBase": "https://art.thewalters.org/images/art/PS1_71.1169_Fnt_DD_T07.jpg",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://art.thewalters.org/images/art/PS1_71.1169_Fnt_DD_T07.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://art.thewalters.org/images/art/PS1_71.1169_Fnt_DD_T07.jpg",
    "imageCount": 1,
    "pageCount": 1,
    "source": "import",
    "dimensions": [
        {
            "units": "cm",
            "width": 22,
            "height": 18.3,
            "depth": 0.8
        }
    ],
    "dimensionsRaw": "8 11/16 x 7 3/16 x 5/16 in. (22 x 18.3 x 0.8 cm)"
}
Document source extras
{
    "cul": "Viking",
    "med": "whale bone",
    "creator_ids": [
        "2934"
    ],
    "collection_ids": [
        "MED"
    ],
    "exhibition_ids": []
}
Page context
{
    "seq": 1,
    "pageIndex": 0,
    "type": "photo",
    "url": "https://art.thewalters.org/images/raw/PS1_71.1169_Fnt_DD_T07.jpg",
    "mediaId": "ced197b6fbce269e"
}