Not currently on display at the V&A

Box

ca. 1600 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This pearwood box was made in Denmark in about 1600. In Northern Europe, the woods of fruit trees, such as pear, plum and cherry, were used because of their rich colours and as cheap substitute hardwoods for timbers from the Indies. This vernacular-decorated box is inscribed MOSES OG AARON, and depicts Moses holding the tablets with the ten commandments and his older brother Aaron a priestly incense burner and the flowering rod, which symbolized the leadership of the Levi over the twelve tribes of Israel.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Carved pearwood
Brief description
Carved box, Danish, ca. 1600
Physical description
Carved pearwood box, scalloped form, with swelling panelled sides. On the lid, standing figure of Moses bearing tablets unfolded, with Roman numbers 1 - X for the Ten commandments, our (sinister) of Aaron, both wearing terraced conical caps, above the iscription in Danish on the hinge side MOSES OG AARON" - Registered Description, 1951.
Dimensions
  • Height: 4.1cm
  • Length: 7.3cm
  • Width: 5.7cm
When acquired in 1951 the dimensions were as follows: Height 1 5/8 ins; Length 2 7/8 ins; Width 2 1/4 ins.
Marks and inscriptions
MOSES OG AARON
Translation
MOSES AND AARON
Credit line
Given by Mrs E. S. Vaux Graham
Production
This is from the same workshop as the box (Museum No. W.6-1951) with the hunting scene, crucifix (etc.), dated by the costumes to about 1600. The 1951 registered description dates this box "mid 17th century" but it was probably made at much the same time as the other box.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This pearwood box was made in Denmark in about 1600. In Northern Europe, the woods of fruit trees, such as pear, plum and cherry, were used because of their rich colours and as cheap substitute hardwoods for timbers from the Indies. This vernacular-decorated box is inscribed MOSES OG AARON, and depicts Moses holding the tablets with the ten commandments and his older brother Aaron a priestly incense burner and the flowering rod, which symbolized the leadership of the Levi over the twelve tribes of Israel.
Collection
Accession number
W.7-1951

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdNovember 29, 2005
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest