Casket
ca. 1350-1375 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This bone, horn and gillt-copper on wood casket, is made by the Workshop of the Nailed Figures in Northern Italy in about 1350-1375. This workshop (bottega a figure inchiodate) was so called by Elena Merlini and reflects on the fact that the members of the group share a characteristic method of manufacture, the figured plaques being attached with round-headed and gilded nails to the wooden core. The iconography of this casket is unusual, while the other caskets mainly represent fairly static figure scenes, this one brims with movement and energy. The repertoire of naked amorini fighting animals was fairly common in the workshop, but was used exclusively on casket lids rather than the body. The present casket is the only surviving example where this animal combat imagery is the subject of the mail panels.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Wood inlaid with marquetry of ebony and bone |
| Brief description | Casket, wood inlaid with marquetry, bone and gilt copper, by the workshop of the Nailed Figures, North Italy, ca. 1350-1375 |
| Physical description | The casket is of wood inlaid with marquetry of bone and gilt-copper. The casket has a hipped roof and flat sides, standing on four feet which have lost their original ebony bottoms. The decoration of the lid consists of a geometrical intarsiam, forming an interlocking pattern of squares, stars and circles. Plaques at either end of the lid contain a blank shield surmounted by a crown with three lilies. Above, two further carved panels on the top depict a winged amorino carrying a scroll amongst foliage. The amorini are playing with snails, crickets, storks, etc. Wood enriched with 'alla certosina' marquetry and covered with bone plaques. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Purchased in Paris in 1856 for £8. No further details in Museum records. |
| Production | North Italy |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This bone, horn and gillt-copper on wood casket, is made by the Workshop of the Nailed Figures in Northern Italy in about 1350-1375. This workshop (bottega a figure inchiodate) was so called by Elena Merlini and reflects on the fact that the members of the group share a characteristic method of manufacture, the figured plaques being attached with round-headed and gilded nails to the wooden core. The iconography of this casket is unusual, while the other caskets mainly represent fairly static figure scenes, this one brims with movement and energy. The repertoire of naked amorini fighting animals was fairly common in the workshop, but was used exclusively on casket lids rather than the body. The present casket is the only surviving example where this animal combat imagery is the subject of the mail panels. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 2563-1856 |
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| Record created | April 9, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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