Boulle casket
France
This casket is decorated with marquetry showing scenes from a set of four paintings by Francesco Albani depicting episodes from the life of Venus. Soon after Louis XIV bought the paintings in 1685, prints by Etienne Baudet were published, which provided the models for this and other similar caskets. Appropriately for a casket used in the toilette, the lid depicts the Toilet of Venus. It may have been used to store jewellery and other accessories.
Earliest Rothschild collector: Alice de Rothschild; b.1847, d.1922
Credit: Waddesdon (Rothschild Family)
c 1700-1725
Oak, rosewood and gilt bronze with marquetry of mother-of-pearl, horn, copper, tin, brass and tortoisehell
297.1997
Image and text © Waddesdon Manor, 2019
Where you'll find this
Waddesdon Manor
Permanent collection