Thanks for the imaginative reply - I would never have though of "footstool" but I love that idea. There are indeed no marks on the back (or underside) of any sort (just two paper museum tags). That's one of the reasons I know it's not a "shield" - how would one hold it?

I'm intrigued by the "Celtic/Norse" idea for the decor. The animal itself was apparently still to be found in the wild in eastern Germany and northerly lands by the 11C, though of course an antler could have been traded or gifted hundreds of miles away. I was rather thinking that the carving looked somewhat Italianate -- this is just an impression, as I compare it to carved horn and bone objects from the era. And my eye (and the rest of me) is untrained in art history.

Richard, If I publish the results, I will happily credit you with the footstool idea!

From: medieval-religion - Scholarly discussions of medieval religious culture <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Richard Legault <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2018 7:17 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [M-R] 11-12C antler shield

medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture

Theresa, what a wonderful puzzle.

I too think the object may be mis-identified as a shield. But if not a shield, then what?

Here is my take.

The tips of the tines have clearly been rounded and smoothed as might the feet of a footstool or one element of a multi-part pedestal for a table or chair. The first and third tines from the right are broken and fail to touch the white background surface. Were these tines originally rounded and smoothed to meet a flat surface as most of the others do? The decorated edge and smooth tines indicates to me the object was crafted to stand upon the tines and be seen as displayed in the photo. I'm assuming here, for no good reason, that there are no decoration or joinery or fastener marks on the underside.

The decoration looks rather Celtic or Norse to me. It includes mostly foliage, snakes and birds but there are also several four-footed mammals, standing and crouching, that could be canine or feline. There are also some disembodied heads of the same canine or feline type. The one above the second tine from the left looks rather leonine to me, standing in the posture known to heraldry as "lion passant gardant", though it has its left paw raised rather than the more usual right. Is this lion an indicator of royalty?

If I, as an utterly unqualified amateur, had to guess, I'd call this object a footstool, possibly from the furnishings of some Northern European royal hunting lodge.

Cheers,

Richard J Legault

On Mon, Apr 23, 2018 at 2:44 PM, Genevra Kornbluth <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Is this the object you mean?
https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/BK-16990
I wonder why they call it a shield, even with the modifier "ceremonial". There is lots of scholarship on shields (especially in the earlier period I work on), but it's hard to see how any of that could apply here.
I suppose that it could belong in a category with some of the parade helmets that are based on a helmet form, but clearly not practical protective devices. There are some Roman ones here:
www.kornbluthphoto.com/Helmets.html
And much later, one of the all-time greats:
https://blog.royalarmouries.org/2017/09/11/the-must-see-objects-of-the-tudor-court-in-the-royal-armouries-collection/
best,
Genevra

On 4/23/2018 1:22 PM, Gross-Diaz, Theresa wrote:
medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture

Greetings colleagues,

This is not a question that is really medieval-religion based, but among you there may be someone with vast knowledge on this!

I am looking for information on the magnificent elk-antler “ceremonial shield” at the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Object # BK-16990

I have noted the bibliography that the Rijksmuseum lists, but it underwhelming regarding information on the object (list is heavily skewed to provenance history – interesting, but doesn’t help me).

I am having trouble locating info on this object, or on parallels.

I’ve looked into the burial of Louis the Pious, whose shield this was once purported to be, but since the shield is certainly later, this really doesn’t help.

I have a bit of bibliog on early Anglo-Saxon shields, but these are also of dubious value regarding this 11-12C object.

How unique is this thing? Where can I look for context? How would a shield be used in what sort of ceremony?

I’d be so grateful for any suggestions. I’m just mesmerized by this object.

Theresa

Theresa Gross-Diaz

Loyola University Chicago

Virus-free. www.avg.com

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