Adoration of the Magi 15th century

This panel depicting the Adoration of the Magi was carved in Nottingham, England, likely in the 15th century, from a single piece of alabaster. Alabaster, a relatively soft and easily worked stone, was quarried in the region. Its smooth, creamy surface is ideal for rendering delicate details like the folds of drapery and the serene expressions of the figures. The process of carving would have involved a series of chisels, rasps, and files, gradually revealing the scene from the solid block. Nottingham alabaster carvings like this were produced in workshops, indicating a system of labor and division of skills. The relatively small size of this panel suggests it was likely part of a larger altarpiece or devotional object. The widespread demand for these carvings speaks to broader economic and social networks in the medieval period. So next time you look at a piece like this, think of the many hands involved in its making, from the quarry to the workshop to its final placement in a church or home.