Coffer
ca. 1520 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This item is thought to have been made in Venice in about 1520. The inlay is in the style of Islamic, more specifically Turkish and Arab, woodworkers, who specialised in making intricate geometric patterns with small pieces of wood. However, the overall shape, particularly the arched lid, is that of a Western European coffer, and was most likely made in Venice, which had strong trading links with, and large numbers of craftsmen from, the Ottoman Empire and the Middle East.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Box inlaid with small pieces of ebony, ivory and various coloured woods, cut into geometric patterns |
| Brief description | Ivory and coloured wood marquetry coffer; Venice (?); ca. 1520 |
| Physical description | Rectangular coffer with domed, facetted lid on metal hinges, standing on four turned feet and fitted with a lock.The exterior (except for the bottom) covered with geometrical marquetry of bone/ivory and coloured woods. With edge mouldings on the lid and base consisting of alternating bone and dark coloured wood, and at each corner turned bone spindles in two sections. The interior, fitted with x drawers and a mirror, is also veneered with similar fitted with similar geometrical marquetry. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Bought for £30. No further information is recorded about how the Museum acquired this object. This box has always been thought to be Italian, and most likely made in Venice. However, in more recent years, similar items have been reattributed to North Africa or the Middle East. |
| Historical context | This item is thought to have been made in Venice in about 1520. The inlay is in the style of Islamic, more specifically Turkish and Arab, woodworkers, who specialised in making intricate geometric patterns with small pieces of wood. However, the overall shape, particularly the arched lid, is that of a Western European coffer, and was most likely made in Venice, which had strong trading links with, and large numbers of craftsmen from, the Ottoman Empire and the Middle East. |
| Summary | This item is thought to have been made in Venice in about 1520. The inlay is in the style of Islamic, more specifically Turkish and Arab, woodworkers, who specialised in making intricate geometric patterns with small pieces of wood. However, the overall shape, particularly the arched lid, is that of a Western European coffer, and was most likely made in Venice, which had strong trading links with, and large numbers of craftsmen from, the Ottoman Empire and the Middle East. |
| Bibliographic reference | Ancient and Modern Furniture & Woodwork in the South Kensington Museum, described with an introduction by John Hungerford Pollen, (London, 1874), p. 32
'Box. Marquetry of ivory and coloured woods inlaid in interlacing bands enclosing geometrical designs, bordered with ebony and ivory, the interior fitted with similar work. Venetian. About 1520. H. 12 3/4 in., L. 19 ½ in., W. 12 in. Bought, 30l.
This must be considered as an Indian design or imitation from Indian work. It shows us the source from which the minute geometrical inlay and other Indian designs found their way into Italy, after the Spanish discoverers had shown the way to the New World and round the Cape to India. The decoration consists of bands of minute inlay, in combinations of diamond-shaped pieces, triangles, squares, &c. Internally there are, on one of the long sides, small drawers and compartments, covered by a flap lid, similarly ornamented. The top is panelled inside with a band of delicate mosaic of this kind, depressed between fine running mouldings. A small looking-glass occupies the centre. Round the glass are eight medallions, of mosaic work, while between this and the bands that form the top into a panel, is red velvet.' |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 8513-1863 |
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| Record created | November 21, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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