Cylindrical casket

Description

A cylindrical Siculo-Arabic, ivory casket with metal mounts. The casket rests on three small spheroid feet. The circular shape is achieved by holding together two half circles of ivory with mounts on the exterior. The lid is made from an ivory disc, its outer rim secured with a bronze mount. The mounts and feet are uniform in style and contemporary with the casket, and may originally have been gilded. Inside it is lined with what appears to be appliquéd felt, probably a later addition and there are traces of Arabic script where the lining has worn away. The Latin word custodium is found on the wooden base. The casket probably dates from the late twelfth or early thirteenth century.