Esther before Ahasuerus
Lid of a Snuff Box
1700-1725 (made)
1700-1725 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Mother-of-pearl, jet coral and amber were selected by craftsmen for their beauty, durability and rarity. These materials often occurred in a particular geographical region. Coral for example was prevalent in Sicily and amber along the Baltic coast. Many of the religious items were portable, as were the small portraits. They were often made locally and then taken elsewhere. Pilgrims from all over Europe bought the jet images made in Santiago de Compostela.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Esther before Ahasuerus (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Mother of pearl |
| Brief description | Esther before Ahaseurus, mother of pearl lid of a snuff box, Flemish, by J.B. Barckhuysen, ca. 1700-25 |
| Physical description | Lid of a snuf box in mother of pearl. Ahasuerus extends his sceptre to the kneeling Esther. Courtiers surround them. On the left an engraved view of a town with a tower and 'I. BARCKHUS fecit'. On the reverse, engraved, a similar coronation scene. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'I. BARCKHUS fecit' (On the front) |
| Credit line | Given by Alfred Behrens |
| Production | Previously thought to depict Soloman and the Queen of Sheba. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Mother-of-pearl, jet coral and amber were selected by craftsmen for their beauty, durability and rarity. These materials often occurred in a particular geographical region. Coral for example was prevalent in Sicily and amber along the Baltic coast. Many of the religious items were portable, as were the small portraits. They were often made locally and then taken elsewhere. Pilgrims from all over Europe bought the jet images made in Santiago de Compostela. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.35-1928 |
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| Record created | January 8, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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