Siculo-Arabic, Sicily or Southern Italy, 12th century

Overall the casket is in good condition with dirt and wear consistent with age. The casket is made up of individual ivory panels. Originally it would have been unlined. However, the casket has been strengthened and stabilised with the addition of a well executed wood core. The ivory is in good condition. Five of the small border panels on the body of the casket at the front and on the left side appear to be old bone replacements, along with a corner of one of the panels on the left side. There are a few further such replacements at corners. The panels to the interior also appear to be bone replacements, though again with age to them. There is a small loss to the large right panel on the body of the casket at the front. Some of the panels may have been rearranged at some point in the life of the object, since there is figurative decoration to some of the underside panels (where figurative decoration would not be expected). It is possible that some panels could be associated. Some panels and sections of panel are lost to the underside and there is evidence of old fill in these areas. There are some further small losses to the ivory including to some of the corners of the lid panels. There are some lacunae to the panels, possibly for old mounts (see the front, top and sides of the lid for example). Much original polychromy survives, but it has worn in areas. The handle is a later replacement, as may be some of the metal pins holding the casket together. The lockplate is a replacement. There are various holes throughout for lost pins. There is minor stable splitting to the ivory consistent with the material. It's possible that some of the metal mounts lacking gilding (the lower hinge mounts on the lid at the back, and the back hinge mounts on the body) are later replacements. Some of the smaller metal mounts, such as the ring mounts could possibly be later. There is general wear to the interior including some small holes. The painted decoration is in good condition with much of the original painting surviving. It is possible that a few small painted elements have been slightly refreshed. There is possibly later applied dirt to some of the surfaces, particularly the front of the lid.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The present work belongs to a group of Sicilian caskets believed to have been made in Palermo by Muslim craftsmen during the 12th-century Norman occupation. The tear-shaped mounts act both as highly decorative features of the whole and as supports for the delicate and fragile ivory walls which originally would have been unlined. They were painted with designs which appear to be divided into five groups: abstract designs, floral motifs, animal and bird motifs, human figures and imaginary creatures.

An analagous casket was sold in these rooms on 7 December 2010, lot 1. Another example was also sold at Sotheby's on 9 April 2008, lot 83. Other Siculo-Arabic caskets can be found in major institutions including the Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore (inv. no. 71.310) and the Doha Museum (inv. no. iv.03.97).

RELATED LITERATURE
R. Koechlin, Les ivoires gothiques français, Paris, 1924, vol. I, p. 473, no. 2; R. H. Randall Jr, Masterpieces of Ivory From the Walters Art Gallery, London, 1985, no. 232, pp. 158-159; M. Rosser-Owen, Ivory 8th to 17th centuries: Treasures from the Museum of Islamic Art, Qatar, Doha, 2004, no. 5, pp. 24-29