Pierced Boxwood Casket Inscribed Ie le donne de bon cœur

French, circa 1500.

Measurements: 18.5 × 9.1 × 8.3 cm.

A rare and finely carved casket in boxwood, of upright rectangular form, each face pierced with intricate Gothic tracery comprising lozenges, pointed arches, and interlaced geometric forms. The panels are framed with borders of punched stars, dots, and linear incisions, executed with striking precision. The architectural profile is crowned by a stepped pyramidal finial, evocative of late Gothic tabernacle spires.

The lid lifts to reveal a plain interior, likely intended to hold a token of devotion, jewellery, or a personal keepsake. Given the pierced construction, it may also have contained something aromatic—such as dried floral petals, scented herbs, or pot-pourri—functioning in part as a pomander or as a fragrant gift of affection.

The inscription, carved in relief across four stylised banderoles, reads in early French: “Ie le donne de bon ? (cœur)”, meaning “I give it with a good heart.” The sentiment is enhanced by the inclusion of a stylised heart, reflecting the object’s intended function as a romantic or affectionate gift—possibly exchanged in the context of courtship or betrothal. The use of boxwood, a dense and finely grained timber ideal for micro-carving, suggests a French workshop of high technical accomplishment. The casket’s scale, refined construction, and inscription situate it within the broader tradition of late Gothic and early Renaissance objets de vertu, whose purpose lay as much in sentiment and symbolic gesture as in function.

The casket is in remarkable condition, with only a few very minor damages to the pierced tracery and small age-related wear and tears as to be expected for such an old, fine, and fragile object.

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Comparisons

A comparable pierced boxwood étui is preserved in the Musée du Louvre (Inv. no. MRR 91), French, 16th century. Hexagonal in form and richly decorated with Gothic tracery, marquetry, bust portraits, and the inscription “Vive le Roy Charles”, it exemplifies the use of architectural ornament and romantic or political inscriptions in luxury personal objects.
https://collections.louvre.fr/en/ark:/53355/cl010106919

A related hexagonal pierced boxwood cage, catalogued as Iberian, was offered at Coutau-Bégarie, Paris, 24 November 2023. Its scallop-lidded form, architectural fretwork, and decorative character reflect shared stylistic principles across secular and devotional traditions.
https://coutaubegarie.com/en/lot/139977/23371136

A domed casket in pierced boxwood with engraved bone inlays, from the collection of Frédéric Spitzer, was sold at Mirabaud-Mercier, Paris, 25 April 2024. It demonstrates a high level of ornamental sophistication within the same material tradition.
https://www.fligny-haute-epoque.com/objet/coffret-a-couvercle-bombe-2

A closely related casket is in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (Museum no. 532-1869), French, circa 1500. Though without inscription, its pierced sides and pyramidal lid are closely comparable in form and execution.
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O118527/box-unknown/

Another example, sold at Sotheby’s, London, 7 December 2010, was carved in pierced Gothic tracery and bears the inscription: “POUR .IE. .EL E DOUE.”
https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/french-16th-century-25-c-729b60d212

A closely related group of boxwood combs, decorated with pierced designs and romantic inscriptions, is preserved in the Victoria and Albert Museum, dated c.1500–1600. See accession numbers: 2147-1855, W.23-1926, 282-1900, W.2-1947, CIRC.478-1923, 236-1872, W.2-1914, and 88-1892. Note that whilst there are numerous examples in the V&A, other museums such as the Louvre, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and additional international collections also preserve related works.