Carved in Ivory

Between the seventh and twelfth centuries a highly sophisticated tradition of carving in ivory developed in Britain, beginning in the monasteries before their devastation by the Vikings and continuing until it was superseded by the French style in the twelfth century. In this film Lord Clark argues that, at its height, the English tradition was characterized by a sense of humanity lacking in its European counterparts. The earliest pieces shown, including the `non-style' of the Frank's Casket and other examples in the Celtic or `folk-wandering' cursive style, pre-date the classic period. Lord Clark illustrates this classic era, the hundred years around the Norman Conquest, with ivories from Winchester, a Giottesque nativity scene, small figures which show a `complete disregard for conventional grace' and a small box which attains a `classic grandeur worthy of a great Renaissance fresco.' The eleventh century saw the gradual revival of the cursive style, but while some pieces reveal a cold ornamental `un-British' style, others continue the classic tradition, including in particular a `Tau' cross from Winchester and a crozier made in Canterbury. Lord Clark sees the ensuing dominance of the French style as an end to a period in which the anonymous English sculptures were the best in the world. Carved in Ivory was filmed at the exhibition `Ivory Carvings in Early Medieval England 700-1200,' staged at the Victoria and Albert Museum, and Kilpeck Church, Herefordshire.

© 1998-2008 The Roland Collection & Pira Intl.