Panel from Chair of Maximian: Joseph sold by Brethren c. 6th century

Editor: Here we have "Panel from Chair of Maximian: Joseph sold by Brethren," made by an unidentified maker. It's a small, intricately carved panel. What details stand out to you? Curator: The ivory itself speaks volumes. Its cost implicates power. Labor was needed to acquire it and carve it, not to mention the social structures that permitted its trade. Editor: So the material is as important as the narrative? Curator: Absolutely. The panel shows a biblical scene, but consider the imperial context of its creation. Who commissioned it? What was the function of the chair, and how does this panel contribute to its message of authority? Editor: That gives me a completely different perspective. Thanks! Curator: Indeed, art's materiality and production are key to its meaning.