View full screen - View 1 of Lot 109. A post-Nasrid walnut and ivory-inlaid scribe's chest, Spain, probably Barcelona, 16th century.

A post-Nasrid walnut and ivory-inlaid scribe's chest, Spain, probably Barcelona, 16th century

Auction Closed

October 26, 12:30 PM GMT

Estimate

7,000 - 10,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

of rectangular form with lid secured by two metal hinges, the exterior inlaid with micro-mosaic panels of ivory and walnut wood, decorated with interlacing geometric star motifs, chequerboard and roundels, bordered by narrow diamond bands, the interior lid with further geometric inlay and roundels, metal key


51.6 by 36.1 by 22.1cm.

This lot contains ivory. Commercial trade in ivory is regulated by multiple governments and international organisations around the world, including through prohibitions, restrictions and licensing and / or registration requirements. Different regulations apply to buyers, depending on their individual circumstances and the relevant auction / sale. Replica Shoes 's therefore recommends that, before taking any action in relation to a potential purchase or handling of an ivory item, buyers obtain advice on the regimes and requirements applicable to them. Replica Shoes 's will also not conduct any applications for buyers for exemption certificates, CITES licenses, registrations or similar that may be required, including the renewal or update of the same, or arrange for import or export permits needed for international shipping. A buyer's inability or delay to obtain necessary documentation, or lawfully arrange the export or import of the lot will not justify sale cancellation or a delay in payment.

The practice of inlaying ivory into walnut dates back to the Umayyad period and is recorded in both Spain and North Africa. Luxury furniture decorated with micro-mosaics was particularly popular under Nasrid patronage in fourteenth/fifteenth century Spain, and the present casket, though slightly later in date, presents a fine example of the enduring legacy of this tradition.


For a similar example in the collections of the Hispanic Society of America, New York, see H. Ecker, Caliphs and Kings: The Art and Influence of Islamic Spain, Washington, 2004, p.108, no.86.


This lot contains ivory and has been registered as exempt in the UK in accordance with the UK Ivory Act 2018.