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Casket
Marked by: Unmarked
probably English (London)
about 1590
Object Place: Europe, Probably London, England
Medium/Technique
Mother-of-pearl with silver mounts
Dimensions
H. 13.7 cm (5 3/8 in.); W. 12.4 cm (4 7/8 in.)
Credit Line
Theodora Wilbour Fund in memory of Charlotte Beebe Wilbour
Accession Number63.1252
CollectionsEurope
ClassificationsSilver
Mother-of-pearl comes from the inside layer of certain tropical shells and was prized for its lustrous, iridescent surface. Craftsman in Gujarat, India, specialized in cutting and assembling plaques to create functional vessels that were eagerly collected and displayed by Europeans as luxurious curiosities from the other side of the world.
DescriptionThe cylindrical body of the casket is composed of vertical strips of mother-of-pearl pegged into a broad silver collar with a dentiled border. The collar is engraved with scrolls of foliage enclosing exotic birds. The silver foot has a flaring rim with stamped eggand-dart ornament. The three feet are formed by cast figures of seated lions. The domed cover is made of strips of mother-of-pearl secured with a silver wire rim, rising to a boss with a bun-shaped finial. It is attached to the body by an exterior hinge that is pierced with a pattern of arabesques. A hinged clasp with a hook and eye secures the cover at the front. The strips of shell are pegged to the silver frame with brass rivets. The broad center section of silver is formed from a strip seamed near the hinge. The feet, hinge, and upper section of the finial are cast. The surface of the silver collar shows considerable flaking and corrosion.
ProvenanceDukes of Norfolk, Arundel Castle (unverified); purchased from How (of Edinburgh), London, by the MFA for £650. (Accession date: September 18, 1963)