Casket (cassetta)

late 15th–early 16th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 500
The variety of fantastic ornament employed for the decoration of this casket was derived from Roman wall decoration. After centuries of burial, these decorations were revealed during the excavations of the Golden house of Nero in Rome, begun about 1480. As they were found underground in grotto-like spaces, they were named grottesche, or grotesques.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Casket (cassetta)
  • Date: late 15th–early 16th century
  • Culture: Italian, Ferrara
  • Medium: Gesso on wood (pastiglia)
  • Dimensions: Overall: 7 1/4 × 8 1/2 × 10 1/4 in. (18.4 × 21.6 × 26 cm)
  • Classification: Woodwork-Furniture
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1910
  • Object Number: 10.141.1
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

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