Casket thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Casket

ca. 1400 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This object was bought in 1899 from Stefano Bardini, Italy's leading antique dealer of his day. It is decorated with a repetitive pattern of Fleur-de-lys on a blue background, the symbol of the Kings of France from about 1180. The joinery and use of poplar, a wood widely used in Italy, as well as the disitinctively shaped lid, indicate Italian workmanship between about 1350 and 1400. It may have originally belonged to either to a French courtier with Italian connections or an Italian banker who had links with the ruling dynasty of France.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Lid
  • Casket
Materials and techniques
Poplar, decorated with moulded gesso, painted red and parcel gilt
Brief description
Poplar and gesso casket; Italy; ca. 1400
Physical description
Casket with sloping lid of poplar, decorated in gesso with a diaper of gilded fleur-de-lys on a blue ground. It is fitted with an iron lock and key with a brass now and ring drop handle also of brass.
Dimensions
  • Height: 12.3cm
  • Width: 15.5cm
  • Depth: 8.9cm
When this object was acquired, the measurements were Height 4 7/8 inches; Width 6 1/2 inches; Depth 3 1/2 inches.
Production typeUnique
Object history
Bought for £5 5s. from Bardini Sale lot 311, 5-8th June 1899 at Messrs. Christie, Manson & Woods (RF 22865/1899); Bardini catalogue pl. 14, no. 227
Subject depicted
Summary
This object was bought in 1899 from Stefano Bardini, Italy's leading antique dealer of his day. It is decorated with a repetitive pattern of Fleur-de-lys on a blue background, the symbol of the Kings of France from about 1180. The joinery and use of poplar, a wood widely used in Italy, as well as the disitinctively shaped lid, indicate Italian workmanship between about 1350 and 1400. It may have originally belonged to either to a French courtier with Italian connections or an Italian banker who had links with the ruling dynasty of France.
Collection
Accession number
484&A-1899

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Record createdNovember 14, 2005
Record URL
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