Casket, wood covered with bone, with painted and gilded decoration, possibly made in Spain, 11th or 12th century

Casket, wood covered with bone plaques, with painted and gilded decoration. With an inscription written in Arabic and copper-gilt mounts.

Traditionally dated to the fourteenth century and thought to be a product of Nasrid Granada. But, attribution based on stylistic features, most of which can be traced to Almohad roots. The circular geometric motifs relate to the illuminated frontispieces of Almohad Qur'ans, and the seated musicians are like those seen on brocade textiles, as well as incised pottery from Murcia, datable to the late twelfth to early thirteenth centuries. The figurative decoration itself supports an earlier attribution - very little Nasrid art is figurative. (M. Rosser-Owen, 2010).

11-1866