Northern Italy workshop

Carthusian-style casket with decoration, 15th century

Casket

Carved walnut wood, bone and mother-of-pearl

Inv. PME9

This square-shaped wooden chest, decorated with mother-of-pearl and bone inlays, was probably intended to hold papers and precious objects. Purchased by Barbantini on the antiques market, it is distinguished by a well-preserved Carthusian-style decoration composed of polygons, rhombuses, stars and circles that recall motifs typical of Arabic art, introduced to Europe in the 15th century by Carthusian monks. In the center of the lid is a small chessboard, which has prompted critics to speculate that it might have been used during travels as a game table. The chessboard, built on multiples of the number eight, is inserted in the center of a sixteen-pointed star figure surrounded by four circles. The use not only of geometric shapes, but also of mathematical patterns, is characteristic of Middle Eastern aesthetics, connected to deep and complex philosophical conceptions. A clear example of this are the arabesques, represented here by subtle and sinuous threads.