The Fountain of Youth
- Object:
- Place of origin:
- Date:
early 15th century (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Workshop of Embriachi (maker)
- Materials and Techniques:
Silver fir inlaid with marquetry of bone ivory and horn
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
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This marriage casket, made by the Workshop of the Embriachi in the early 15th century, is of silver firwood, enriched with 'alla certosina' marquetry and covered with bone plaques.
The plaques are representing the story of the Fountain of Youth. The lid is ornamented with flying amorini supporting hearts, against a background of leaves.
The Embriachi workshop was a north Italian family of entrepreneurs and carvers. The precise location of the workshop is unknown, except that it originated in Florence and in ca. 1431 there was apparently a workshop in Venice, in the area of S Luca.
They employed local workers specialising in 'certosina' (inlay of stained woods, bone and horn), and the workshop produced items carved in bone (usually horse or ox) with wood and bone marquetry.
As well as altarpieces, the workshop also made caskets as bridal gifts to hold jewels or documents, and these were often decorated with scenes from mythology.
Physical description
This marriage casket is of silver firwood, enriched with 'alla certosina' marquetry and covered with bone plaques. The plaques are representing the story of the Fountain of Youth. The lid is ornamented with flying amorini supporting hearts, against a background of leaves.
[Lid] Lid from a casket ornamented with flying amorini supporting hearts, against a background of leaves
[Casket box] Casket, in silver fir inlaid with marquetry of bone ivory and horn, with figures and leaf work and scenes on the sides depicting the fountain of youth
Place of Origin
Italy (north, made)
Date
early 15th century (made)
Artist/maker
Workshop of Embriachi (maker)
Materials and Techniques
Silver fir inlaid with marquetry of bone ivory and horn
Dimensions
Height: 19 cm, Length: 31.5 cm, Depth: 21 cm
Object history note
Purchased from the Museum of the Collegio Romano, Rome.
Historical context note
The casket is closest in style to an example in the collection of the late Archduke Franz Ferdinand (von Schlosser, Dr., fig. p, p. 242)
Descriptive line
Casket, in silver fir wood, scenes of the fountain of youth, from the Embriachi workshop, North Italy, early 15th century
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Carvings in Ivory. Part II. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1929, p. 66
Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1859. In: Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, Arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol I. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868, p. 31
Production Note
from the Embriachi workshop
Materials
Ivory; Bone; Horn; Firwood
Techniques
Inlay; Marquetry
Subjects depicted
Figures; Leaves; Christianity; Hearts; Fountain of Youth
Categories
Containers; Sculpture; Religion; Christianity
Collection code
SCP
