Casket
12th century
Medium
Ivory, brass, tempera, and gold leaf
Dimensions
9.5 × 15.9 × 9.7 cm (3 3/4 × 6 1/4 × 3 13/16 in.)
Classification
european decorative arts
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
28454
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This type of ornately painted ivory casket survived in relatively large numbers in church treasuries. Judging from their Arabic inscriptions, which contain wishes for happiness, blessings, or glory, it is likely that many of them were originally intended for secular use as wedding gifts or jewelry boxes. However, they were often later used as reliquaries. Here traces of an inscription on the front rim and cover read, "May glory endure". This box was probably made on the island of Sicily, an impo...
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...