Marriage Casket
- Object:
Casket
- Place of origin:
Italy (North, made)
- Date:
beginning 15th century (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Workshop of Embriachi (artist)
- Museum number:
4304:1-1857
- Gallery location:
In store
This ocatagonal casket, formed of plaques of carved bone and 'alla certosina' marquetry of coloured woods, is made by the Workshop of the Embriachi, the beginning of the 15th century from North Italy.
The sides are decorated with eight panels illustrating the story of Jason; the lid with a similar number representing the Virtues.
The Embriachi workshop was a famous ivory-carving family who originated in Florence but had a workshop in Venice by the 1430s. They were able to employ local workers specialising in 'certosina' (inlay of stained woods, bone and horn), and the workshop produced items carved in bone (usually horse or ox) with wood and bone marquetry.
Apart from altarpieces the workshop made caskets as bridal gifts to hold jewels or documents, and these were often decorated with scenes from mythology.
