Box with Romance Scenes
Unknown Artist
ca. 1310–30
Medium
Elephant ivory
Dimensions
4 5/16 × 9 15/16 × 6 1/4 in., 3.2 lb. (10.9 × 25.3 × 15.9 cm, 1454g) Other (Top): 5 7/8 × 9 7/8 × 5/16 in. (15 × 25.1 × 0.8 cm)
Classification
Ivories-Elephant
Culture
French
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917; The Cloisters Collection, 1988
Accession Number
17.190.173a, b; 1988.16
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the enchanting world of medieval romance with this exquisite *Box with Romance Scenes*, crafted from elephant ivory by an unknown French artist around 1310–30. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Medieval Art collection, this Gothic treasure measures about 4½ × 10 × 6¼ inches and weighs over 3 pounds, its compact form belying the intricate artistry within. Produced in the thriving ivory workshops of Paris, such boxes were luxury objects for the nobility—often used as bridal caskets, mirrors, or keepsake containers—showcasing the era's fascination with chivalric tales and exoti...