Chest (Cassone) Front
1500-1600 (made)
| Place of origin |
Wood, carved with allegorical figures and armorial bearings, and covered with gilt gesso.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Brief description | Coffer Front. Italian: early 16th century. Gilded. |
| Physical description | Wood, carved with allegorical figures and armorial bearings, and covered with gilt gesso. |
| Dimensions | Dimensions from Pollen (HW): 1 ft. 10 ½ in. x 5 ft. 7 in. (57.2 x 170.2cm) |
| Gallery label | Label text c.1930 while displayed in Tapestry Court: South-East Block. South Side. [gallery 44 ‘East Central Court’ c.1909-1952]
FRONT OF MARRIAGE CHEST.
Walnut with gilt gesso reliefs.
ITALIAN; 16th century.
7829-1861.
(1930) |
| Object history | Bought £4 (no further information on register). Osterley Park House, 1974. |
| Historical context | Comparable panel at Philadelphia Museum of Art. Virtually identical panel at Kunstgewerbemuseum Berlin, No. 1877.327 – see: G. Schade, Möbel der italienischen Renaissance, (1964) pl. 4-5. |
| Bibliographic reference | London, South Kensington Museum: Ancient and Modern Furniture & Woodwork in the South Kensington Museum, described with an introduction by John Hungerford Pollen (London, 1874), p. 140.
Coffer panel. Wood, carved and gilt; the front of a coffer, with allegorical figures and armorial bearings. Italian. 16th century. Bought, 4l.
The work is of early 16th century design, showing the fuller outlines and the more academical treatment of times later than those in which the best artists expended themselves on painting furniture, reliquaries, and the like. The wood is here carved in relief and helped out by massive plaster preparation for gilding. In these are allegorical representations of vices, or the contest of human nature with vice. A monster, half man, half lion, is combating another, who is of the satyr type. The rude strength of a noble nature struggling against the more degrading vices of which the man goat is the type. On the opposite side is a centaur carrying plenty, a female figure with a cornucopia, violence, with luxury in its train. In the central portion are the four cardinal virtures: Prudence holding a serpent in her right hand, and a mirror in the left; Justice with the sword and scales; Fortitude in arms; and Temperance typified by the grapes and cup. Two shields of arms are borne on dividing candelabra, but the arms have been purposely effaced. No. 7830-61 is similarly decorated. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 7829-1861 |
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 | February 12, 2008 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
