Casket
early 13th century (made), ca. 1000-1150 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This casket would have been used for storage. It provides evidence of the artistic exchange between Europe and the Middle East. It was made in Sicily or southern Italy. For its base, however, the maker reused an earlier piece of woodwork with ivory inlay. This woodwork is an extremely rare example of a technique used in Cairo in the Fatimid period (969–1171).
In the medieval period, luxury goods from the Islamic Middle East found a ready market in Christian-ruled Europe. These imports enjoyed such enormous prestige that luxury goods made in Europe were often decorated in Islamic styles.
In the medieval period, luxury goods from the Islamic Middle East found a ready market in Christian-ruled Europe. These imports enjoyed such enormous prestige that luxury goods made in Europe were often decorated in Islamic styles.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Wood and ivory with traces of colour and gilding |
| Brief description | Wooden casket faced with ivory panels, the base a reused piece of earlier woodwork with ivory inlay, Sicily or southern Italy, ca. 1200-1250 (the base Egypt, probably Cairo, ca. 1000-1150). |
| Physical description | Wood covered with panels of ivory decorated in outline with traces of colour and gilding; the mounts of silver. On the bottom is a panel inlaid with ivory, black mastic and wood, with a mutilated Kufic inscription reading 'barakah' ('blessing'). |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | barakah Note tentative reading of the bold inscription on the base Translation 'blessing' (Arabic) |
| Gallery label |
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| Production | Wooden casket made in Sicily or southern Italy, ca. 1200-1250. The base is a reused piece of earlier (Fatimid) woodwork with ivory inlay (probably Cairo, ca. 1000-1150). |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This casket would have been used for storage. It provides evidence of the artistic exchange between Europe and the Middle East. It was made in Sicily or southern Italy. For its base, however, the maker reused an earlier piece of woodwork with ivory inlay. This woodwork is an extremely rare example of a technique used in Cairo in the Fatimid period (969–1171). In the medieval period, luxury goods from the Islamic Middle East found a ready market in Christian-ruled Europe. These imports enjoyed such enormous prestige that luxury goods made in Europe were often decorated in Islamic styles. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 700-1884 |
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| Record created | December 2, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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