A Renaissance casket acquired by the Metropolitan

29/8/24 - Acquisitions - New York, The Metropolitan Museum of Art - A regular client of the Paris galleries, the Metropolitan Museum of Art is adding a new piece to its collection of European decorative arts, a leather casket from the Italian Renaissance (ill. 1 to 5), acquired from Brimo de Laroussilhe, which has already taken pride of place in its galleries.

1. Italy, late 15th century
Casket
Boiled leather - 12.9 × 22.5 × 21 cm
New York, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Photo: The Metropolitan Museum of Art

See the image in its page

Circular in shape, the case has a convex base, a flat lid and two series of side loops originally intended for a lanyard (ill. 1). It is particularly well decorated on all sides. The thin wooden core is covered with boiled leather decorated with relief motifs that stand out against a grained background, giving it the appearance of a piece of goldsmith’s embossed work. The main motif, a coat of arms, which has not yet been identified, is placed in the central part of the lid and also in the centre of both sides of the body of the box. It is framed by two erect lions on the lid (ill. 2), two fantastic sea creatures on one side (ill. 3) and two winged putti on the other (ill. 4). A profusion of figures and foliage completes the decoration. Surrounded by a garland of laurel leaves, the lid is divided into four compartments alternately decorated with an eagle with outstretched wings and two winged putti. The edges of the lid are decorated with horns of plenty, foliage and scrolls.

2. Italy, late 15th century
Casket
View of the top of the cover
Boiled leather - 12.9 × 22.5 × 21 cm
New York, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Photo: The Metropolitan Museum of Art

See the image in its page

The body of the casket is decorated with a frieze divided into two parts on either side of the two side loops. The coat of arms is completed on one side by fantastic marine figures fighting on the waves (ill. 3), and…