French, circa 1360-1380

the couples surrounded with banderols of illegible text in Gothic script, 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

F. Spitzer, La Collection Spitzer, Antiquité, Moyen Age, Renaissance, Tome Deuxieme, Paris, 1891, no. 6

Given the age of the box and the fragility of the material, the condition of the casket is good overall, with dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. The leather is slightly dry and consequently there is minor stable craquelure throughout, notably to the top left hand corner, the front right hand corner, and the back right hand corner of the lid. The leather around the edge of the lid has slightly buckled, which partially obstructs the closing of the lid. There are various small scratches and fissures, notably to the underside. There are numerous remnants of original polychromy and gilding.There is some rubbing to the brass mounts, particularly at the high points. The mounts have very slightly warped in areas. The lockplate and key are replaced, they function. The canvas lining to the interior of the casket is later and may have been applied for stabilisation.
"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 betrothal casket, formerly in the Spitzer Collection, 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 example of a cuir bouilli and cuir ciselé leatherwork box, used for carrying and storing books, with similar scrolling ornamentation, in the Victoria and Albert Museum (see Gall, op. cit., p. 108). Another casket, depicting similarly courting couples in comparable dress, was sold at Piasa auction in Paris, 7 June 2013, lot 38. Further comparison can be made to an embossed leatherwork casket in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (inv. no. 41.100.194). 

RELATED LITERATURE
G. Gall, Leder im Europäischen Kunsthandwerk, Braunschweig, 1965, cat. 77, p. 108, pl. 6; G. Rudolf (ed.), Album: Musée national du Moyen Age: Thermes de Cluny, Paris, 1993, no. 50