Casket

This casket is typical of the production of the bone-carving workshop founded by Baldassare Embriachi (active about 1390-1409), and is decorated with wood inlays and carved bone panels.  These boxes were usually made to celebrate a marriage, possibly as part of a dowry, and were used to hold jewels, small pieces of lace, and other small luxury items belonging to the bride. Fittingly, they were often decorated with scenes from ancient or medieval chivalric poetry, like this one that displays scenes from the story of the ancient hero Jason.  Winged creatures hold shields that would have been decorated with heraldic devices of the families of the bride and groom.