Le remploi des ivoires dans l’occident haut-médiéval (VIIe-XIe siècles)
Jean Pierre Caillet
The re-use of ivory items in the Western Early Middle Ages is result drastic shortage raw material (the Muslims having control, then, all supplying counters). So, Late Antique pieces might be re-employed without any change; but more often they underwent re-carving. First we have to deal with tablets, at back which lists saints, bishops or donors are written. Sometimes too, a diptych becomes incorporated reliquary; and perhaps, some pyxids served for hosts stocking. But, from 8th century onwards, main use book binding ornamentation. Beyond this “utilitarian” character, re-uses ivories should also considered as references prestige what had been created during Antiquity, or, Ottonians, Carolingian Byzantine origin. regarding five centuries here taken into account, destinies these perfectly reveal various valuations involved by phenomenon.
Hortus artium medievalium