Casket
middle of 15th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This casket was in the possession of Cardinal Albrecht von Brandenburg at Halle an der Saale, who made it a casket for relics. Albrecht had a huge collection of relics called the 'Hallesche Heiltum', a collection which was already started by his predecessor Ernst von Sachsen. The pieces from the 'Hallesche Heiltum' were depicted in the 'Aschaffenburger Codex'.
The present casket may have been made as a wedding gift, suggested by the male and female figures amongst foliage on each end, which have parallels in the contemporary wooden Minnekästchen of the Upper Rhine (Kohlhaussen 1928).
The present casket may have been made as a wedding gift, suggested by the male and female figures amongst foliage on each end, which have parallels in the contemporary wooden Minnekästchen of the Upper Rhine (Kohlhaussen 1928).
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Carved and pierced bone panels, mounted over red leather on a wood core, in gilt-copper mounts and framework. |
| Brief description | Casket, for relics, bone mounted on red leather, flowers and figures, Germany (Upper Rhenish), probably middle of the 15th century |
| Physical description | Panels carved in openwork with the following subjects: on the lid, Gothic tracery within a border of scrolling vine-plants, in front two strawberry plants; at one end a gentleman picking flowers in a garden; at the other end, a lady similarly engaged; at the back a bear amid oak plants. Bottom covered with leather and studded with brass nails. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Formerly Spitzer collection, Paris, before 1893; Spitzer sale, Paris, 27 April 1893, lot 142 (ill. pl. IV); then George Salting collection, London; Bequeathed to the V&A by Salting, in 1910 (no. 1345). |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This casket was in the possession of Cardinal Albrecht von Brandenburg at Halle an der Saale, who made it a casket for relics. Albrecht had a huge collection of relics called the 'Hallesche Heiltum', a collection which was already started by his predecessor Ernst von Sachsen. The pieces from the 'Hallesche Heiltum' were depicted in the 'Aschaffenburger Codex'. The present casket may have been made as a wedding gift, suggested by the male and female figures amongst foliage on each end, which have parallels in the contemporary wooden Minnekästchen of the Upper Rhine (Kohlhaussen 1928). |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.571-1910 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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