French, circa 1360-1380

the couples surrounded with banderols of text, with a cutting from an old auction catalogue on the inside of the lid printed: 51 A CUIR-BOUILLI CASKET ... from the Spitzer Collection

Frédéric Spitzer, Paris;
his sale, Paul Chevallier and Charles Mannheim, Paris, 17 April-16 June 1893, lot 867, pl. XXV

Given the age of the box and the fragility of the material, the condition is good overall with dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. There is minor stable craquelure to the leather throughout, with more wear towards the sides and edges. There are also various small scratches and fissures. The lockplate and key are replaced: they function. There is rubbing to the high points of the figurative decoration. There are numerous remnants of original polychromy and gilding remaining. The circular mounts at the bottom left and top right corners of the lid are a little loose. Some of the mounts could have been reattached. There are particular scratches and abrasions to the leather to the underside. There is a later primed canvas lining to the interior.
"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 lavishly incised leather marriage casket is decorated with scenes of paired figures engaged in conversation, their words engraved along scrolls that curl around and between the couples. Their costumes are indicative of a date between 1360 and 1380. There is a comparable examples of a cuir bouilli and cuir ciselé leatherwork box, used for carrying and storing books, which show similar scrolling ornament, in the Victoria and Albert Museum (see Gall, op.cit., p. 108). A casket showing scenes of the Life of the Virgin, worked in the cuir bouilli technique and highlighted in colour, from the collection of Mr and Mrs Alastair B. Martin, is illustrated by Gómez-Moreno (op.cit., no. 217).

RELATED LITERATURE
G. Gall, Leder im europäischen kunsthandwerk, Braunschweig, 1965, cat. 77, p. 108, pl. 6; C. Gómez-Moreno, Medieval Art from Private Collections. A Special Exhibition at the Cloisters, New York, 1968, no. 217; G. Rudolf (ed.), Album: Musée national du Moyen Age: the Cluny thermae, Paris, 2003, pp. 100-101