Ivory box
Sicily or southern Italy; 12th century
H: 8.3; L: 15.3; D: 8.7 cm
Inventory number 6/1976
This little box consists of ivory plaques attached with bone pegs to a wooden frame. It belongs to a group of related ivories with painted decorations that are presumed to have been made by Muslim craftsmen in Sicily or southern Italy in the 12th-13th century, after the region had come under Christian dominance.
These ivories feature traditional Islamic elements such as arabesques, animal medallions, and in some cases also Kufi inscriptions. This box is moreover distinctive for its painted fittings on the sides and lid, in imitation of metal fittings.
These ivories feature traditional Islamic elements such as arabesques, animal medallions, and in some cases also Kufi inscriptions. This box is moreover distinctive for its painted fittings on the sides and lid, in imitation of metal fittings.
Published in
Published in
Kjeld von Folsach: Islamic art. The David Collection, Copenhagen 1990, cat.no. 281;
Kjeld von Folsach, Torben Lundbæk and Peder Mortensen (eds.): Sultan, Shah and Great Mughal: the history and culture of the Islamic world, The National Museum, Copenhagen 1996, cat.no. 192;
Kjeld von Folsach: Art from the World of Islam in The David Collection, Copenhagen 2001, cat.no. 407;
Kjeld von Folsach, Torben Lundbæk and Peder Mortensen (eds.): Sultan, Shah and Great Mughal: the history and culture of the Islamic world, The National Museum, Copenhagen 1996, cat.no. 192;
Kjeld von Folsach: Art from the World of Islam in The David Collection, Copenhagen 2001, cat.no. 407;
