Presentation Diptychs or Fancy Stationery?

This article reasserts some of the fundamental insights Cameron has brought to our understanding of the nature and use of ivory diptychs in the face of challenges from recent scholarship. First it shows that all ivory diptychs were originally presentation pieces meant to commemorate important occasions, particularly officeholding, and that these became more narrowly restricted to the celebration of the consulship only in the early fifth century. Second, ivory diptychs were never intended for general use as writing tablets nor even as portfolios for codicilli but always remained showpieces, intended as gifts to celebrate family achievements and especially offices held. —NEL.