Publication Date
Circa 390-410/1000-1020
Publication Place
-
Victoria and Albert Museum
Subject
Engraved ivory (engraved silver was added later).
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
الارتفاع: 26.8 سم؛ العرض: 26.2 سم؛ العمق: 16.2 سم
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
10–1866
Record ID
object;ISL;uk;Mus02;4;ar
Library Location
Victoria and Albert Museum
Date
Circa 390-410/1000-1020
Notes
An ivory jewelery box with a conical stem-shaped lid, consisting of 12 carved ivory pieces (four for the box, eight for the lid). Some of the pieces have been lost, perhaps removed when European silver inlay was done in the 17th or 18th century. The lower part of the cover originally bore an inscription, but it was removed at some point and replaced with blank strips. The pieces of the box have been beautifully engraved with a total of 15 medallions within an interlocking frame, some of which show people drinking or playing musical instruments, two of which show a hunter and trainer of goshawks, and another of which shows a person sitting in a howdah carried on what appears to be a camel. The rest of the medallions show birds and animals, including lions, hares, elephants, and deer, in addition to a group of imaginary animals such as dragons and winged lions, most of which appear in pairs facing each other. The spaces between and around the medallions have been filled with more birds and animals, making this a small menagerie from the 11th century, which may have been used as a storage box for jewelery by a member of the royal family.
Sample Text
Barry Wood “Jewelry Box” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;uk;Mus02;4;ar
