λ A RARE NORTH ITALIAN BONE AND IVORY INLAID WALNUT CASSONE

λ A RARE NORTH ITALIAN BONE AND IVORY INLAID WALNUT CASSONE

VENETIAN, LATE 15TH / EARLY 16TH CENTURY

all-over decorated 'alla certosina' with geometric bands and rondels, the hinged lid centred with a chequer board, above a gouge carved frieze, the front with a coat of arms, flanked by a pair of flowerhead panels and with urns issuing flowers, the sides similarly decorated with wrought iron handles and on mythical beast front feet

61cm high, 158.2cm wide, 58.5cm deep

*This item is offered for sale in accordance with the Ivory Act 2018 and has been assigned a registration number.

Catalogue Note

The practice of decorating furniture with contrasting inlays was used by the craftsmen of Ancient Egypt. It continued to flourish during the Medieval period in Islamic cities such as Cairo and Damascus, where dense patterns were created using tiny inlaid pieces of bone or ivory and various woods. The technique seems to have been adopted in both Spain and Italy, particularly Venice, from about 1450, and was used on boxes and chests like this one. References in Italian 16th-century inventories to chests alla veneziana (in the Venetian style) may refer to this style of decoration.

For similarly decorated chests and cassoni, see Sotheby's, 27th October 2021, Arts of the Islamic World, lot 201, the V & A Museum, accession no. 7224-1860 and the National Trust, Polesden Lacey, ref. no. NT1245974.