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Casket with Erotes and Animals

12th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 300
In scenes recalling antiquity, two panels on the lid of this casket show erotes (nude children), fighting (left) and playing music (right). The style of the animals represented on the four sides suggests that the carving was done by Italian artists drawing on Byzantine models.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Casket with Erotes and Animals
  • Date: 12th century
  • Geography: Made in Northern Adriatic
  • Culture: Italian or Byzantine
  • Medium: Bone plaques and ornamental strips over wooden casket with silk lining; copper handle, clasps, lock plate, and nails
  • Dimensions: Overall: 4 3/4 x 15 1/2 x 7 3/4in. (12.1 x 39.4 x 19.7cm)
  • Classification: Ivories-Bone
  • Credit Line: Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
  • Object Number: 17.190.235
  • Curatorial Department: Medieval Art and The Cloisters

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Casket with Warriors and Mythological Figures, Bone plaques and ornamental strips over wood; silver lock plate, Byzantine
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