Lidded casket, of wood covered with tooled and gilded leather, depicting hunt scenes within decorated borders.

Wood, covered with tooled leather, partly gilt. It has brass mounts. On the coved lid is a represetation of rustic figures and trees, and a stag hunt. On the front and sides of the box are panels representing birds and on the back is a diaper of small rosettes, borders and floral scrollwork and other ornament. A moulded handle is on the lid. The box rests on four knob feet.

A key of later date was provided at acquisition (not found 2013).

Captain H. B. Murray's Bequest

Bequeathed by Captain Henry Boyles Murray (leather chipped), of 24 Bina Gardens, South Kensington, London. RF1910/3823M.
No specific information about this casket was found on the RF.

Lent to the Museum of London, Cheapside Hoard exhibition, 2013

This casket is one of a large, stylistically and technically unified group regarded as being Flemish c1580-1630. Their picturesque hunt and joust scenes evolve from the decoration of much earlier, late medieval caskets, many of which were almost certainly used as betrothal and love gifts. Such scenes were probably understood to allude to romance (the chase of love) and fidelity. Gall (1965, pp.232-5, see History and References) dated the costumes worn by hunters to the late 16th century, noting one with the arms of Charles V, and the fleur-de-lis of the house of Bourbon. Other commentators note stylistic and technical parallels between the way in which these coffers are decorated by the same techniques using metal stamps as found on a Friesland bookbinding c.1625, suggesting that the same craftsmen may have been involved.

See J. Storm van Leeuwen, De meerst opmerkeliijke boekbanden uit eigen bezit, Gravenhage, 1983, no. 56 [comparing bookbinding and decorative surface of early 17th century caskets, particularly in the Friesland region.]

Various, very similar tooled-leather caskets with hunt scenes have been published:
V&A 1174-1864
Günter Gall, Leder im Europäischen Kunsthandwerk, Braunschweig 1965, abb. 172 (Flemish, late 16th century);
A Renaissance Treasury. The Flagg collection of European Decorative Arts and Sculpture, Milwaukee Art Museum, Laurie Winters et al. (New York, 1999), no. 38 (M.1991.74);
Christies, South Kensington 26/2/2003, lot. 226 (German or Netherlandish, 1600-50);
Christies, South Kensington 4/11/2008 lot. 197 (possibly 19th century);
Christies, London, Dec. 1993, lot 68;
Christies, London, Feb. 2002, lot 313;
Tra/E: Teche, pissidi, cofani e forzieri dall’Alto Medioevo al Barocco, exhibition catalogue, curated by Pietro Lorenzelli and Alberto Veca (Galleria Lorenzelli, Bergamo Oct-Dec 1984 and Antiquaria, London March-April 1985), fig. 195 (France, 17th century);
Ecouen, musée national de la Renaissance: ECL1667

This casket was made in about 1600 in the Netherlands, possibly Friesland. This type of lightweight, highly decorated container was probably used for presents between lovers or to mark a betrothal, following a long tradition. The imagery of hunting had long been used to allude to the chase and capture of love, and on this casket depicts hunt scenes on the lid and front. The leather is parcel gilt and tooled with a series of stamps, very similar in technique to contemporary bookbindings, and possibly carried out by the same craftsmen.

W.49-1911