A 16th century carved and boarded cedar casket, Venice


The flanged lid with a punch border, and with metal pin hinges, the interior once with till (now lacking) and with iron lock, the top edge of all side boards with a run of lozenge punches, the box of dovetailed construction with mitred corners, the front board decorated with a pair of recessed carved eagles encircled by foliage, above a run of Moorish-type arches, the baseboard rebated, 38.5cm wide x 17.5cm deep x 17.5cm high, (15in wide x 6 1/2in deep x 6 1/2in high)
|Probably originally with areas of inlay, possibly to the run of Moorish-type arches to the bottom edge of the front board. A very similar casket is in the collections of the V & A, and is dated to the 15th century, so this example may be earlier than 16th century. The V & A's example retains traces of red inlay - analysed and found to be glass - azurite pigment, and is made of poplar, rather than cedar [Museum Number: W.25-1953].