Casket with the Triumph of Venus

Art Historical Context

Step into the enchanting world of early 18-century French decorative arts with this exquisite *Casket with the Triumph of Venus*.ed by an unknown artist around 1710–1720, this small wooden box (5 1/8 × 11 7/8 × 9 1/4 in.) is adorned with intricate straw marquetry—a clever technique using delicately cut and layered straw to create shimmering, mosaic-like patterns mimicking gilding or exotic woods. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Department, it entered the collection via the Edward C. Moore Bequest in 1891. The casket's lid and sides depict the mythological *Triumph of Venus*, the Roman goddess of love, surrounded by angels, men, and musical instruments in a celebratory procession. This Rococo-inspired scene evokes the opulent courts of Louis XIV and XV, where such luxury objects served as jewel cases or trinkets for the elite, blending whimsy with classical mythology. Straw work, classified here under "Natural Substances," highlights innovative craftsmanship amid France's golden age of decorative arts. Affordable yet elegant, it democratized luxury motifs, showcasing artisans' skill in transforming humble materials into radiant vignettes of divine revelry. A true gem for admirers of period finery!