Dice shaker with Susannah and the Elders
Dice Box
ca. 1600-50 (made)
ca. 1600-50 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This dice-box is made by an unknown artist in the first half of the 17th century in Germany. It shows a representation of Susanna and the Elders. The figurative scenes almost certainly depend from engraved sources, as yet untraced.
The character of Susannah originates in the biblical story of Susanna and the Elders from the Apocrypha. Susanna was a beautiful and righteous wife who walked each afternoon with her handmaidens in the garden adjoining her wealthy husband's house. Two Elders, newly appointed as judges, watched her in the garden every day and began to lust after her. The Elders waited for an opportune moment to take advantage of her, finding it one hot day when Susanna decided to bathe and sent her maids to the house for bath oils. The Elders shut the garden gates and ordered Susanna to lie with them or they would falsely accuse her of adultery. Despite their power as judges, Susanna chose the virtuous course, rejecting the Elders, and was condemned to death upon their testimony to the people's assembly. She was saved by Daniel, in whom the Lord - hearing Susanna's cries of innocence - instilled the spirit of truth... The story of Susanna is one of the few biblically justifiable opportunities to depict female nudity.
The character of Susannah originates in the biblical story of Susanna and the Elders from the Apocrypha. Susanna was a beautiful and righteous wife who walked each afternoon with her handmaidens in the garden adjoining her wealthy husband's house. Two Elders, newly appointed as judges, watched her in the garden every day and began to lust after her. The Elders waited for an opportune moment to take advantage of her, finding it one hot day when Susanna decided to bathe and sent her maids to the house for bath oils. The Elders shut the garden gates and ordered Susanna to lie with them or they would falsely accuse her of adultery. Despite their power as judges, Susanna chose the virtuous course, rejecting the Elders, and was condemned to death upon their testimony to the people's assembly. She was saved by Daniel, in whom the Lord - hearing Susanna's cries of innocence - instilled the spirit of truth... The story of Susanna is one of the few biblically justifiable opportunities to depict female nudity.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Dice shaker with Susannah and the Elders (named collection) |
| Materials and techniques | Engraved bone with inked-in designs, mounted in gilt metal. And one carving on piece. |
| Brief description | Dice Box, bone with gilt-metal mounts, with a representation of Susannah and the Elders, German, ca. 1600-50 |
| Physical description | Representation of Susanna and the Elders. The tall oval shaker is engraved with inked-in designs. The upper band of ornament shows a scene of Susanna and the Elders Apocrypha and is inscribed at the foot of the scene. Underneath is a second band of ornament, separated by a foliate border. This shows an unidentified coat of arms of a griffin above waves. The only element carved in the bone, as opposed to an incised design, is a cupid blowing a horn sculpted relatively crudely in low relief. Beneath this band is the integral triangular base incised with floral and foliate designs. The whole is mounted on a gilt metal base standing on three feet, each being formed of a globular fruit growing from a leafy twig. The top is bordered by a gilt metal rim. |
| Dimensions |
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| Content description | Susannah and the Elders |
| Marks and inscriptions | 'SVSANA' (at the foot of the scene of the upper ornament band) |
| Object history | Bought for £5 from the Bernal Collection at Christie's, London, 21 March 1855, lot 1676. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This dice-box is made by an unknown artist in the first half of the 17th century in Germany. It shows a representation of Susanna and the Elders. The figurative scenes almost certainly depend from engraved sources, as yet untraced. The character of Susannah originates in the biblical story of Susanna and the Elders from the Apocrypha. Susanna was a beautiful and righteous wife who walked each afternoon with her handmaidens in the garden adjoining her wealthy husband's house. Two Elders, newly appointed as judges, watched her in the garden every day and began to lust after her. The Elders waited for an opportune moment to take advantage of her, finding it one hot day when Susanna decided to bathe and sent her maids to the house for bath oils. The Elders shut the garden gates and ordered Susanna to lie with them or they would falsely accuse her of adultery. Despite their power as judges, Susanna chose the virtuous course, rejecting the Elders, and was condemned to death upon their testimony to the people's assembly. She was saved by Daniel, in whom the Lord - hearing Susanna's cries of innocence - instilled the spirit of truth... The story of Susanna is one of the few biblically justifiable opportunities to depict female nudity. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 2163-1855 |
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| Record created | May 1, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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