Jewel casket
Elegant nécessaires de poche filled with minute utensils for grooming, writing, or sewing were fashionable during the eighteenth century. Made of gold with hard stones, mother-of-pearl, or tortoiseshell, they were the work of a goldsmith and often served as New Year’s presents. Here, an openwork pattern of scrolls, floral garlands, small animals, birds, and dancing musicians in gold is placed on panels of striated agate. The original contents of the nécessaire are missing.
Artwork Details
- Title: Jewel casket
- Date: mid-18th century
- Culture: British
- Medium: Gold, agate, diamond, mirror glass
- Dimensions: Overall (with handle raised, confirmed): 3 15/16 × 4 1/8 × 3 1/4 in. (10 × 10.5 × 8.3 cm)
- Classification: Metalwork-Gold and Platinum
- Credit Line: Gift of Admiral F. R. Harris, in memory of his wife, Dena Sperry Harris, 1946
- Object Number: 46.147.3
- Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
More Artwork
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.