Not currently on display at the V&A

Box

13th century or 14th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This cylindrical casket or box with traces of painted decoration is by an unknown artist from the 13th century or 14th century from Sicily, Italy.

This casket was possibly earlier in the Treasury of S. , Masstricht. The letter 'C' inscribed on the lid is of the same type as those found on a number of similar plain ivory boxes in the treasury there (B,C,D,E,G,G,H,H,I,I,L,M (or W), N) PW 10/05/1990


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Turned ivory, gilded metal
Brief description
Cylindrical box or casket, probably Siculo-Arabic, 13th or 14th century
Physical description
Cylindrical casket or box with traces of painted decoration - with lock, clamps. The feet and mounts of engraved and gilded metal.
Dimensions
  • Height: 12cm
  • Diameter: 11cm
Marks and inscriptions
'C' inscribed on lid
Object history
Box intended as a "custode" for the sacred wafers.
Historical context
This casket was possibly earlier in the Treasury of S. , Masstricht. The letter 'C' inscribed on the lid is of the same type as those fopund on a number of similar plain ivory boxes in the treasury there (B,C,D,E,G,G,H,H,I,I,L,M (or W), N) PW 10/05/1990
Production
the mounts are probably of later date. Probably Siculo Arabic.
Summary
This cylindrical casket or box with traces of painted decoration is by an unknown artist from the 13th century or 14th century from Sicily, Italy.

This casket was possibly earlier in the Treasury of S. , Masstricht. The letter 'C' inscribed on the lid is of the same type as those found on a number of similar plain ivory boxes in the treasury there (B,C,D,E,G,G,H,H,I,I,L,M (or W), N) PW 10/05/1990
Bibliographic references
  • Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1857. In: Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, Arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol I. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868, p. 22.
  • Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Carvings in Ivory. Part I. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1927, p. 58
  • Williamson, Paul. "Ivory Carvings in English Treasuries Before the Reformation". In: Buckton, David and Heslop, T.A., eds. Studies in Medieval Art and Architecture presented to Peter Lasko. Dover: Sutton, 1994, p. 199 and fig 9
Collection
Accession number
4073-1857

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Record createdJune 18, 2008
Record URL
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