Case
Unknown Artist
16th century
Medium
Tooled leather (cuir bouilli) over wood core
Dimensions
Overall (confirmed): 5 5/8 × 3 1/4 × 3 1/4 in. (14.3 × 8.3 × 8.3 cm)
Classification
Natural Substances-Leatherwork
Culture
Italian
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Alastair Bradley Martin, 1949
Accession Number
49.61.3a, b
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite 16th-century Italian, crafted by an unknown artist, exemplifies the mastery of everyday luxury objects. Measuring a compact 5⅝ × 3¼ × 3¼ inches, it features a wood core encased in tooled cuir bouilli—a hardened leather achieved by boiling it in water or wax to make it pliable for molding and embossing. Adorned with griffins, the mythical beasts symbolizing strength and guardianship, the case likely served as a protective container for valuables like mirrors, jewelry, or writing instruments, blending utility with artistic flair. The technique of cuir bouilli was prized in Renais...