These _retables_ are large in size, but not great in design, and though the groups of figures are lovely in detail, they are not impressive as a whole, the low relief giving little scope for the play of light and shade.
There are many beautiful polygonal caskets with domed covers, also combs and other small articles, and a very excellent account of the whole series has been given by Julius v. Schlosser in the _Wiener Jahrbuch_ for 1900.
[Illustration: [VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM, LONDON LOAN COLLECTION HON. A. BERESFORD-HOPE, M.P. 37. TRIPTYCH IN CARVED BONE Italian, early fifteenth century]
This short account of the Ivory Workers of the Middle Ages commenced with Italy in the last years of the fourth century, and, having made the round of Europe, returns to her after a thousand years, at the end of the fourteenth century, and must close, just at the outgoing of the mediæval era, with this magnificent group of carvings, which lies half across the border line of the early and true Renascimento.
[22] See an article on Croziers by Cahier and Martin, _Mélanges d’Archéologie_, t. iv.
[23] See an article by Barbier de Montault, _Revue de l’Art Chrétien_, 1883, p. 157.
[24] The Angel belongs to M. G. Chalandon and the Virgin to M. P. Garnier.
1. About 400. [Probably] STILICHO. _a._ Stilicho, standing, armed, bearded. _b._ Serena and little Eucherius, standing. _Tesorio della Basilica, Monza._
2. 406. PROBUS. Rome. _a._ Emperor Honorius, standing, armed, with standard and orb. _b._ Emperor Honorius, standing, armed, with shield and spear. _Cathedral Treasury, Aosta._
3. 428. FELIX. Rome. _a._ Standing in trabea, bearded. _b._ Standing in chlamys. _Bibliothèque nationale, Paris._
4. 449. ASTURIAS. Rome. _a._ Sitting on curule chair, two attendants (lost). _b._ Same type (formerly at Liège). _Darmstadt Museum._
5. 487. BOETHIUS. Rome. _a._ Sitting, holding _mappa_. _b._ Standing. _Museo Civico, Brescia._
6. 488. SIVIDIUS. Rome. _a._ Inscribed medallion and scrolls. _Bibliothèque nationale, Paris._ _b._ Inscribed medallion and scrolls (lost).
7. 506. AREOBINDUS. Constantinople. _a._ Consular type. Lions. _b._ Cons. type. Bears. _National Museum, Zurich._
8. 506. AREOBINDUS. Constantinople. _a._ Cons. type. Bears (Basilewsky Coll.). _Museum of the Hermitage, St. Petersburg._ _b._ (Lost.)