A Siculo-Arabic gilt metal mounted ivory casket, Sicily, 12th century

of rectangular form with hinged gabled lid, the wooden structure covered with thin sheets of ivory secured by gilt copper mounts with pointed terminals and lock-plate, decorated with painted ornaments comprising interlacing vegetal motifs, peacocks, and heron inflight with fish in their beaks, the interior with beige cloth lining, standing on four small spherical feet 

Ancienne Collection Aronoff

Good condition overall. The casket is complete with its original copper mounts, ivory plugs and fabric lining inside. Minor surface dust, especially to the lid, which can be easily cleaned. A few minor scratches to the surface. The ivory plaques of the bottom of the casket have been reconsolidated by a professionnal restorer, and remains of glue visible in the crevisses. The two bottom corners have been repaired, and the associated ivory feet have been put back into place. (A detailed report of the restoration is available on request). The lid of the casket is formed by several separate ivory plaques assembled and held together by the copper mounts. The four angles of the lid appear to have been restored at the edges. A fine horizontal hairline crack visible across the backside of the box. One original triangular ivory element set in as a separate piece forming the left bird's body, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This elegant box belongs to a group of ivory caskets attributed to Sicily and likely to have been made in Palermo by Muslim craftsmen when the island was under Norman occupation in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.  As a group they tend to have the same style of gilt copper mounts which are not only decorative but also act as support for the thin and fragile ivory walls.  Ivory pieces such as this are likely to have been produced under Fatimid influence for the nobility in Sicily (who could afford such luxuries), and some of them are thought to have been offered as marriage gifts.

A casket with similar floral and bird motifs to the present example can be found in the Museum of Islamic Art, Qatar (see Rosser-Owen, 2004, pp.24-29), whilst additional pieces are in the Museum of Turin, the Cluny Museum (inv. CL.14779) and the Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore, the latter from the collection R. Forrer in Strasbourg (see Randall, op. cit. No. 234). Further elaborately decorated examples exist in both the Instituto de Valencia de Don Juan, Madrid and the Victoria & Albert Museum (see Ferrandis 1940, pl.XXVII, XXXVI & XLII).  Other caskets of this kind without the painted decoration were sold in these rooms on 13 October 2004, lot 35 and 9 April 2008, lot 83.