A Finely Carved and Metal Mounted Casket ‘Minnekästchen’ with original lock

Wood, steel, vellum lining
Superb colour and patina
Upper Rhine Germany
14th Century

Size: 11cm high, 24.5cm wide, 17cm deep - 4? high, 9? ins wide, 6? ins deep

Provenance:
Private collection Switzerland
Cesati, Tefaf, Maastricht
Ex Private collection

cf: Old label to base, No. 23 .. (?) and etched number / date (?) 1541

Crafted in the Upper Rhine region during the 14th and 15th centuries, these caskets primarily served as betrothal vessels, with some instances of commemorative function. Characteristic of this period’s craftsmanship are the iron mounts and flower-head terminals. Frequently, the caskets are adorned with heraldic motifs or dedicatory inscriptions, often placed above intricate latticework backgrounds.