Case
1700-1740 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Boxes of this sort might have been used for a variety of uses. Perhaps the most likely were that they were used to protect scientfic instruments or clock, but they may also have been used to protect fine bookbinding. This case is covered with a thin layer of very fine hide, probably calf skin, dyed green. The decoration was applied after the case was assembled by damping down the hide and impressing it with a variety of heated tools. Gouges, rollers and stamps were used to create a recessed pattern which, once the hide was dry, would last indefinitely. The pattern was then filled with gold leaf and polished.
Both the lid and the body of the case are tooled with the initial IG and two crescents or horseshoes. These must be the initials and emblems of the original owner of the box, who was presumably wealthy and interested in books. Despite these clues we have so far been unable to discover who he or she was.
Both the lid and the body of the case are tooled with the initial IG and two crescents or horseshoes. These must be the initials and emblems of the original owner of the box, who was presumably wealthy and interested in books. Despite these clues we have so far been unable to discover who he or she was.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
Materials and techniques | Leather-covered beechwood, the leather with gold tooling |
Brief description | Case of green leather with gold tooling, of upright, rectangular form, with a pull-off lid, French, 1700-40, stamped with the initials CG surmounted by two interlaced crescents. It is uncertain what the case contained but the probability is that it was a scientific instrument. |
Physical description | Case of green leather covered beechwood, with gold tooling, of upright, rectangular form, with a pull-off lid, French, 1700-40, stamped with the initials CG surmounted by two interlaced crescents. |
Dimensions |
|
Marks and inscriptions | I G (Stamped initials, probably those of the original owner, under two, interlinked, crescents) |
Summary | Boxes of this sort might have been used for a variety of uses. Perhaps the most likely were that they were used to protect scientfic instruments or clock, but they may also have been used to protect fine bookbinding. This case is covered with a thin layer of very fine hide, probably calf skin, dyed green. The decoration was applied after the case was assembled by damping down the hide and impressing it with a variety of heated tools. Gouges, rollers and stamps were used to create a recessed pattern which, once the hide was dry, would last indefinitely. The pattern was then filled with gold leaf and polished. Both the lid and the body of the case are tooled with the initial IG and two crescents or horseshoes. These must be the initials and emblems of the original owner of the box, who was presumably wealthy and interested in books. Despite these clues we have so far been unable to discover who he or she was. |
Collection | |
Accession number | W.27:1, 2-1914 |
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
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
Record created | July 10, 2006 |
Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest