The first and largest of these is a very choice specimen of Ivory
carving. It has been elaborately illuminated, but the colors are now
nearly worn off. Over the head of our Saviour there has probably been a
canopy of precious metal now gone, the supports only remaining. On each
side of Christ are small angels in white dresses, decorated with gold
fleur-de-lys, bearing the instruments of crucifixion, and the saints
rising out of their graves are seen in the ornament under one of these
angels. The figures round the lower part are the twelve apostles. Between
this lower part and the top some ornament has intervened, as socket holes
in the ivory show.
The other side is similar to the one given, only the Virgin and child
take the place of the single figure of our Saviour. Date 1300 to 1320.
It is in the possession of P. H. Howard, Esquire, M. P. The smaller
and plainer specimen is in the Museum of Newcastle, and is a good deal
earlier in date than the former.