Cassone on a plinth

Walnut wood
Tuscany 16th century
Length: 170 cm, heigth: 64 cm, depth: 55.5 cm

The trough- or sarcophagus-shaped Renaissance chest (Greek: larnakes) stands on four diagonally placed, strongly shaped lion’s feet. Above the latter, the trough-like body rises to meet a lid featuring multiple profiles. This type of design was found in Florence and Toscana in the second half of the 16th century.
The chest is decorated all over with high relief, except for two areas on the lid that are left smooth. The two front corners each show a female winged genie, carved three-dimensionally. Strong, symmetrically arranged acanthus leaves frame the two shield bearers of the centrally places coat of arms. The leaping lions hold the shield showing a Moor’s head with ear-ring and head-band. A large, carved blossom shape is inserted on either side of the cassone.
The Moor was introduced to heraldry at an early stage and is referred to as a “common charge”. Many coats of arms feature Moor’s heads, not only in Germany, but also in southern European countries. In Florence, one such coat-of-arms was that of the “Di Dino” family, one of whose members, Antonio di Bernardo di Miniato Dini, was involved for many years in the government of Florence under the Medicis.
The decoration on the cassone lid is rigorously ornamental, in contrast. Godrons, scales and an exceedingly beautiful “running dog” structure, in three continuous bands, the top lid of this striking piece of Renaissance furniture. The chest also includes a matching plinth that presents the cassone in appropriate manner.