Arts of the Islamic World & India including Fine Rugs and Carpets
Arts of the Islamic World & India including Fine Rugs and Carpets
A Nasrid or post-Nasrid ivory and bone-inlaid wood chest, Spain, circa 16th century
Auction Closed
March 31, 12:40 PM GMT
Estimate
5,000 - 7,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
of thin rectangular form with three drawers in the front, on four squat bulbous feet, decorated in the intarsia technique with inlaid ivory, bone, various types of wood and silver with geometric stellar designs, the reverse with a similar, more simplified design, old label to underside: 'LE GARDE MEUBLE PUBLIC, BEDEL & Cie., 18 Rue St Augustin, 14829, Avenue Victor Hugo 67, 194 Rue Championnet - Rue Lecourbe...'
27.5 by 39 by 15cm.
This lot contains ivory. Due to recent changes in the laws of many countries (e.g. US, France) Sotheby's recommends that buyers check with their own government regarding any importation requirements prior to placing a bid. For example, US regulations restrict the import of elephant ivory and prohibit the import of African elephant ivory. Please note that Sotheby's will not assist buyers with CITES licence applications where a buyer elects to either collect or arrange their own shipping, nor will Sotheby's assist with the international movement of ivory by air, either as freight or through hand carry. Sotheby's shipping will only assist in shipping the lot to either domestic UK or EU destinations, where delivery is made by road transport. A buyer's inability to export or import these lots cannot justify a delay in payment or sale cancellation.
Mariam Rosser-Owen notes that in the sixteenth century, "the use of silver became more common [...], presumably the result of the new abundance of that material as an import from Spain's colonies in the New World: it is most often used in groups of three tiny triangles, filling the dark spaces in the angles of the design..." (M. Rosser-Owen, Islamic Arts from Spain, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 2010, p.88). These silver triangular-formations appear in this way on this casket in the front and on the design to the reverse. Further elements typical of the sixteenth century style include the so-called "petalled star" motif and "zig-zagging ribbon" as can be seen on this casket (ibid.)