Tickets
English
DonateMembershipTickets

Coffret

late 15th century (?)
Not on view
Used to hold jewelry and other personal items, Minnekästchen were frequently exchanged as gifts between lovers or betrothed couples. This example is fancifully decorated on the lid with an elephant bearing a howdah; on the front a maiden and a unicorn flank a founatin, and drolleries with musical instruments decorate the side and back panels.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Coffret
  • Date: late 15th century (?)
  • Geography: Made in Upper Rhineland, Germany
  • Culture: German
  • Medium: Maple
  • Dimensions: Overall: 3 7/8 x 7 7/8 x 5 1/2 in. (9.8 x 20 x 14 cm)
  • Classification: Woodwork-Furniture
  • Credit Line: The Cloisters Collection, 1955
  • Object Number: 55.28
  • Curatorial Department: Medieval Art and The Cloisters

More Artwork

More Artwork
Sweetmeat Fork, Silver, partially engraved and gilded with rock crystal, German
Sweetmeat Fork
German
ca. 1500
"Speedwing" Box, Giles Gilson American, Padouk, ebony, walnut, curly maple, and ivory
"Speedwing" Box
Giles Gilson
1980
Fragment of a Belt, Silver and gilded silver, German
Fragment of a Belt
German
ca. 1500
Rolltop desk, David Roentgen German, Oak, cherry, pine, mahogany, veneered with maple, burl woods, holly, hornbeam (all partially stained), tulipwood, mahogany, and other woods; mother-of-pearl; partially gilded and tooled leather; gilt bronze, iron, steel, brass, partially gold-lacquered brass, German, Neuwied am Rhein
Rolltop desk
David Roentgen
Designer Drawer pulls after a design by Thomas Chippendale
Designer Marquetry panel after a design by Januarius Zick
ca. 1776–79
Roundel with Adoration of the Magi, Colorless glass, vitreous paint and silver stain, German
Roundel with Adoration of the Magi
German
1480–90

Related Content

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

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 contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

Send feedback

Content Notice

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.