Bridal casket

second half 16th century

Not on view

This bridal casket, veneered on all surfaces of the exterior with mother-of-pearl applied with silver pins in a tesserae technique, is a masterpiece of its genre. The small corpus of objects to which it belongs is associated with Gujarat in coastal western India and encompasses works that date from in the second half of the sixteenth into the early seventeenth century. While the decorative technique and aesthetic are Indian, the forms to which they are applied is European. Produced for Portuguese clients and primarily intended for use in Asia, upon return to Europe, such objects acquired significant value as marvels, made of exotic materials with dazzling artistry.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Title: Bridal casket
Date: second half 16th century
Culture: India, Gujarat, and Goa or Lisbon
Medium: Teak, mother-of-pearl veneer and painted interior with silver mounts
Dimensions: H. 6 1/8 in. (15.6 cm); D. 5 1/2 in. (14 cm); L. 10 3/16 in. (25.8 cm)
Classification: Shell
Credit Line: Harris Brisbane Dick Fund and Florence and Herbert Irving Acquisitions Fund for Asian Art, 2024
Object Number: 2024.480a–c
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Ten Elements for East Window of an Architectural Ensemble from a Jain Meeting Hall, Teak with traces of color, India (Gujarat, Patan) — Ten Elements for East Window of an Architectural Ensemble from a Jain Meeting Hall
India (Gujarat, Patan)
last quarter of 16th century

Architectural Ensemble from a Jain Meeting Hall, Teak with traces of color, India (Gujarat, Patan) — Architectural Ensemble from a Jain Meeting Hall
India (Gujarat, Patan)
last quarter of 16th century

Wardrobe, Wood (Huanghuali, or Dalbergia odoriferal); metal fittings, China — Wardrobe
China
16th century

Seated Buddha, Bronze, Thailand — Seated Buddha
Thailand
15th century

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.