OF SIX MEDIEVAL WOMEN 



with some simple pattern, the other with 

 heraldic designs of animals or other conventional 

 forms copied from Oriental models. Hence the 

 term " Saracenic " applied to both the workers 

 and their handiwork. 



In order to realise the Ivories which were 

 probably to be seen in the Castle of Hesdin, we 

 must go to the Louvre or the British Museum, 

 where may be found a few rare examples of the 

 work of the period, such as caskets carved with 

 scenes from the life of Christ or the Virgin if 

 they were to hold some sacred treasure, or with 

 scenes from some Romance or from daily life if 

 to contain jewels or other mundane objects. In 

 addition to such caskets, often painted, Mahaut 

 had, to hang from her girdle, as was customary 

 with all ladies in the Middle Ages, a daintily 

 wrought ivory writing-tablet, and a small mirror 

 in an ivory case. These mirror -cases were 

 generally carved with a scene from some love- 

 story, such as two lovers playing chess, or going 

 a -hawking, or some detail from the favourite 

 romance of Tristan and Isolde. Possibly amongst 

 these treasures was a saddle-bow, with a wondrous 

 wealth of carving, or chess-men finely modelled, 

 and inlaid with mother-of-pearl, or a triptych 

 with scenes from the Passion, represented under 

 Gothic arches of most superb and delicate work- 

 manship. But it is perhaps in the Chapel that 

 we must seek the finest work, for here both 

 Mahaut and her father, Count Robert, were 

 lavish with unsparing hand. One Jean le 



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