The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 20, 2024

Casket

Casket

late 1300s
(?)
painted and gilded gesso on wood
Overall: 23.2 x 41.3 x 18.3 cm (9 1/8 x 16 1/4 x 7 3/16 in.)
John L. Severance Fund 1954.600
Location: 110A Italian Gothic

Description

This casket is one of only a few of its kind to survive in such a fine state of preservation. A variety of such caskets were used in wealthy homes to store jewelry, seals, mirrors, and combs. A keyhole lock is provided for security. Caskets like this were often highly decorated and given to women as gifts.
  • according to a letter dated 4 November 1952 from Harold W. Parsons to William Milliken, Bossi claimed his father had "bought [the casket] in Siena from a convent."
  • The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1966. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1966. Reproduced: p. 55 archive.org
    The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1969. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1969. Reproduced: p. 55 archive.org
    The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1978. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1978. Reproduced: p. 69 archive.org
  • {{cite web|title=Casket|url=false|author=|year=late 1300s|access-date=20 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1954.600