Roman Style Chest. Wood, Bone, Metal. Spain, 20th Century.

Romanesque chest. Wood, bone, metal. Spain, 20th century.
Rectangular chest with a trough-shaped lid, decorated on the outside with rectangular plates of carved and stained bone in some details (to highlight the figurative and plant elements it presents) and simple fittings, ending in a teardrop shape. From a typological point of view, this type of chest, intended to store valuable objects, was common in the arts since the Middle Ages. Given the Muslim presence in Spain, examples were made by combining ivory and wood (Nasrid box from the old monastery of San Salvador de Oña in Burgos, etc.), and examples of ivory are also preserved in chests located in Christian territories (Arca de los Marfils de San Isidoro de León). It is also worth remembering the casket of Mohamed ibn Assarch preserved in the Collegiate Church of San Isidoro de León, dating from the Almohad period. From an iconographic point of view, this piece would rather recall Sicilian or Hispano-Muslim objects, given the absence of human figures. Throughout the 19th century, and following a trend that was evident throughout Europe, a series of works were produced in Spain in all artistic fields inspired by important styles from the ancient history of this country. Thus, many objects inspired by Romanesque, Gothic, etc. art were created.
Dimensions: 21x13.5x11 cm