North Italian, circa 1513 and later

inscribed on one side: A DONNA ELETT_ma LVCRETIA DEL BERTO CIO DI LANDO MARIA DALI NOBILI COSTVMI ITA A FORTVNOSI SPONSALI EA TADEO VENANZIO PRODO E GENEROSO OMO AD MDXIII, and with the coats of arms of both families; a hunting scene on the other side; a wax customs seal on the underside inscribed: I DOGANA 63

There are some losses to the gesso and the polychromy at the high points, corners and edges and there is rubbing to the gilding. There is stable craquelure throughout, including some larger stable splits near joints in the wood and through on of the panels with the female heads on the short side. There is an area of scratching under the keyhole on the side of the hunting scene. The hunting scene was probably overpainted. There is some stable naturally occurring splitting to the wood, including to the underside and the right back corner. The wood was made in sections; some joints are visible. There is some minor worming. The locking mechanism is present but corroded and lacking its key. Several old iron nails and split pins are visible on the underside and inside. Otherwise the condition is good.
"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 charming Renaissance casket would have been presented to the bride before her marriage, to hold love tokens and other items associated with her forthcoming nuptials. The beautiful stucco decoration adorning the present casket is reminiscent of the elaborate all'antico pastiglia decoration found on many North Italian marriage caskets from the period. Pastiglia, a relief technique popular in Italy in the 15th and 16th centuries, involved mixing white lead paste with a binding agent, egg white. Referred to as pasta di muschio (musk paste) it was then scented with musk, before being applied in elaborate classicising patterns. This technique was particularly appropriate for bridal caskets, as the musk scent was believed to have aphrodisiacal properties; it is possible that the present casket would also have originally been scented. Compare, for example, with the casket entirely decorated with pastiglia in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (inv. no. 10.141.1).

The present casket is sold with a spectroscopic wood report undertaken by Laboratorio Scientifico del Museo d'Arte e Scienza di Gottfried Matthaes, dated 26 March 2012 (No. 03BC 153/6), stating that three of the four samples taken from the casket date to 490 years ago, plus or minus 40 years. The fourth sample, from the lid, did not return a result.

The casket is also sold with a pigment analysis report undertaken by Dr Henrik Schulz of the Labor für Pigmentuntersuchungen, Berlin, dated 22 August 2012 (No. 210612).