Art Institute of Chicago

Casket

Italian; Sicily

Date

12th century

Medium

Ivory, brass, tempera, and gold leaf

Culture

Sicily

Department

Applied Arts of Europe

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

This type of ornately painted ivory casket survived in relatively large numbers in church treasuries. Judging from their Arabic inscriptions, which contain wishes for happiness, blessings, or glory, it is likely that many of them were originally intended for secular use as wedding gifts or jewelry boxes. However, they were often later used as reliquaries. Here traces of an inscription on the front rim and cover read, "May glory endure". This box was probably made on the island of Sicily, an important crossroads of Mediterranean trade.

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