Silver-gilt casket with royal armorials
Medieval, about AD 1303-8
From England
The lid of this casket has heraldic devices which inform us
about the personal history and the date of the casket. The arms at
the front of the lid belong to Isabella, daughter of Philip IV,
king of France from 1285 to 1314. Isabella was betrothed to the
future King Edward II of England in 1303, and married in 1308. The
casket is likely to date from these years. The arms on the other
side of the casket relate to Margaret, the second wife of Edward I
of England (reigned 1272-1307) and half-sister of Philip IV of
France. The casket could have been an appropriate gift for her to
make to Isabella on the occasion of either her betrothal or
marriage to Prince Edward.
Inside the casket there are traces of three compartments which
may indicate that it was used originally as a chrismatory
(container for holy oils). The sides of the casket are decorated
with motifs drawn from medieval window tracery.
J. Alexander and P. Binski, Age of chivalry: art in Planta (Royal Academy, London, 1987)
J. Cherry, Medieval decorative art (London, The British Museum Press, 1991)
J. Robinson, Masterpieces: Medieval Art (London, British Museum Press, 2008)