Counter Case
ca. 1680 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Small cylindrical cases like this were made from the second half of the sixteenth century. They were often made of silver and contained gaming counters. This is the only known example in gold. Its sides were formed from a single seamed sheet of gold. The pristine condition of the case suggests that it was a cabinet piece rather than intended for regular use.
Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.
Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Seamed and soldered, pierced and engraved gold. |
| Brief description | Counter Case, gold, ca.1680. |
| Physical description | Cylindrical counter case with plain gold base, pierced and engraved around the sides and on the cover with flowers and foliage and the borders with leaves. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | Counter case
1670–90
Cases in this shape were made for gaming counters in
the second half of the 17th century. This is the only known example in gold. It was probably more for display than
for regular use
England
Engraved and pierced gold
Museum no. Loan:Gilbert.25-2008(2011) |
| Credit line | The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
| Object history | Provenance: Christie's, London, 19 March 1986, lot 17. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Small cylindrical cases like this were made from the second half of the sixteenth century. They were often made of silver and contained gaming counters. This is the only known example in gold. Its sides were formed from a single seamed sheet of gold. The pristine condition of the case suggests that it was a cabinet piece rather than intended for regular use. Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996. |
| Bibliographic reference | Schroder, Timothy. The Gilbert collection of gold and silver. Los Angeles (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) 1988, cat. no. 27, pp. 120-21. ISBN.0875871445 |
| Other numbers |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.25-2008 |
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| Record created | June 19, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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