Embriachi Game Box In Inlaid Bone, Italian Certosina, Renaissance (15th–16th Century)

A rare and authentic Renaissance games box from the Embriachi workshop or Lombard “certosina” tradition, produced in Northern Italy around 1470–1520.

Compact in form (15.5 × 15.5 × 7 cm), this box was originally intended to hold chess pieces or tric-trac counters, a highly desirable category among luxury Italian objects of the late Quattrocento.

The wooden core is fully clad in finely cut bone plaques and geometric inlays of dark wood, bone, and green-coloured paste, all characteristic of the certosina technique associated with Milanese and Venetian workshops. The diamond patterns, star motifs and interlocking triangular designs reflect the refined ornamental vocabulary of late 15th-century northern Italy.

The lock and hinges are made of heavy hand-forged iron, entirely original to the piece. The deep patina and the natural iron-oxide staining absorbed into the bone confirm centuries of aging and an authentic early assembly. Such forged fittings are a key diagnostic element for genuine Renaissance workmanship.

The interior shows the typical configuration for storing gaming pieces, further supporting the identification as a games box. Despite its age, the object survives in remarkably coherent and complete condition, displaying the honest wear and patination expected of a five-hundred-year-old utilitarian luxury object.

A rare opportunity to acquire a well-preserved example of the refined craftsmanship of the Italian Renaissance.

Dimensions: 15.5 × 15.5 × 7 cm
Date: Late 15th – Early 16th century
Origin: Northern Italy, Milan or Venice
Materials: wood, bone, certosina inlay, original hand-forged iron fittings