Northern France
Around 1300–50
Carved ivory, with boxwood and gilt metal
50 x 205 x 105 mm
Flirting couples adorn this luxury box entirely carved in thin panels of ivory. Courtly love was a favourite subject for the decoration of fashionable accessories such as ivory caskets, combs and hand mirrors. Looking closely, some of the scenes are repeated. This casket was probably given as a token of affection from a lover and may have been used to store jewellery.