Cassone (chest), pair with 1975.1.1947
Unknown Artist
mid-16th century (with 19th century additions)
Medium
Walnut, carved and partially gilded; coniferous wood.
Dimensions
H. 73.6 cm, W. 1.7 m, D. 63.5 cm
Classification
Woodwork-Furniture
Culture
Italian (Rome or Siena?)
Department
Robert Lehman Collection
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
Accession Number
1975.1.1940
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant cassone, or marriage chest, hails from mid-16th-century Italy—likely Rome or Siena—and forms a pair with its counterpart (1975.1.1947) in the Robert Lehman Collection the Metropolitan Museum of Art Cassoni like this were prized furnishings in Renaissance households, often commissioned as wedding gifts to store linens and dowry goods. Their carved fronts served as public displays of family prestige, blending utility with opulent storytelling through intricate reliefs. Crafted from richly grained walnut, the chest is masterfully carved and partially gilded for a luxurious sheen, wi...