Casket
19th century in the 16th century style
Medium
Steel and gold
Dimensions
9 × 10.5 × 7 cm (3 1/2 × 4 1/8 × 2 3/4 in.)
Classification
casket
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
230001
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This small casket or strongbox with its handle and locking mechanism was well designed for the restless, mobile nature of French court life in the sixteenth century. The casket’s intimate scale was suitable for housing jewelry, devotional aids, and other precious objects that the owner wished to transport when following a prince from one palace or castle to another. Here, the intricate interlace of bright gold wire is a counterpoint to the blackened steel that forms the body of the casket. Thes...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...