Gothic Ivories Project | Casket with arches (coffret; frise d'arcatures; colonnettes) (Top)

Lid
Courting couple (meeting of lovers); couple holding hands. Youth kneeling before a lady; lady making a wreath of flowers. Youth chucking his lover under the chin.
Body, front
Lady crowning her kneeling lover. King (?) with a hawk on his wrist; queen holding a flower (?); lion under the lock. Lady with a dog.
End, right
Youth kneeling before a lady (offering of the heart?); trees.
Body, back
Lady (?) with a hawk on her wrist; tree. Seated male musician playing a portable organ; couple dancing. Youth holding a flower (?).
End, left
Youth chucking his lover under the chin; trees.

Volbach 1923: France, 1st half of the 14th century.
Koechlin 1924: France, mid 14th century.
Berlin 1989: France (?), beginning of 14th century.
Museum's opinion 2012: France (Paris), 1st quarter of 14th century.

Attribution
Unknown

Reverse
Carved on all sides.

Object Condition
Crack on the right edge of the lid. The back of the left end is reinforced with a silver plate.

Comments
Some figures wear chaplets pierced with small holes, where gems may have been originally inserted. The silver fittings are decorated with fleur-de-lys patterns. The lock is engraved with the inscription: 'AD (Anno Domini) 1666' (later engraving).

Provenance
Collection of Mr. Jahnke, Berlin; bought by the Museum on 4 April 1882.

Bibliography
W. F. Volbach, Die Bildwerke des Deutschen Museums, Die Elfenbeinbildwerke (Berlin, 1923), pp. 48-49 (with ill.).
R. Koechlin, Les Ivoires gothiques français (Paris, 1924), I, pp. 479, 482; II, no. 1267; III, pl. CCXVI.
Schatzkästchen und Kabinettschrank. Möbel für Sammler, Katalog zur gleichnamigen Ausstellung im Kunstgewerbemuseum Staatliche Museen Preußischer Kulturbesitz, exhibition catalogue, Berlin, 1989, p. 90, no. 2 (P. Krutisch).

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