Bringing the Holy Land Home: The Crusades, Chertsey Abbey, and the Reconstruction of a Medieval Masterpiece

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This object is a rectangularly-shaped panel carved from marble. The dimensions of this relief panel are about 20 inches by 17, and about 2 inches high. Due to its quality as a stone that could be easily and intricately carved, marble has been the preferred carving material since the times of the ancient Greeks. As suggested by the title, the focal point of the design of the Relief with Addorsed Ducks is the two ducks who sit in the center of the composition with their backs toward one another. They are also the primary decorative motif of the object, which is indicated by their central position and size. Their wings are highly stylized and carefully carved to show each distinct feather. 
The ducks are placed in a roundel, surrounded by a repeating pattern of circular and oval shapes, evoking resonances of pearl iconography. The border consists of two distinct shapes that occur in repetition. This style is similar to the decoration of other objects in this exhibition and is undoubtedly related to Sasanian design techniques. 
A short ribbon wraps around the necks of the ducks and crosses behind their head. The ribbon is free floating. We can see that it is not depicted as physically connected to the naturalistic and vegetal motifs of the roundel’s background. The ribbon is placed loosely around their necks and is not restrictive or choking them. Rather, it seems to adorn the ducks like a crown or garland. 

In the corners of this object, surrounding the central medallion of the duck motif, large oak leaves are paired with acorns. Typically, the iconographic symbol of the oak tree and its fruit, the acorn, is representative of stability, strength, and fertility. Together, with the symmetrical design, they create a more unified composition. Underneath the ducks, inside the central medallion, 4 clusters of oak seeds are connected to a fully grown acorn, connecting to a fan-like vegetal piece that houses the ducks, containing them within its frame. This image may evoke resonances of the popular Tree of Life motif. 

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