Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index



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  • Title: Cassone [Marriage Chest]
  • Creator:
  • Description: Cassoni were major status symbols in the medieval Italian household. They often depict scenes of courtly love. Here, lovers appear standing by the "fountain of love" and a rose bush. Other scenes depict a man or lady (identified by her crown) on horseback holding a falcon--an animal that symbolized sexual aggressiveness. The lady also carries a whip, symbolic of how she spurs her lover on and enflames his ardor.
  • Source: Wikimedia Commons
  • Rights: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales license. Attribution: Valerie McGlinchey
  • Subject (See Also): Cassoni, Marriage Chests Courtly Love Falcons Furniture Horses Roses
  • Geographic Area: Italy
  • Century: 14
  • Date: 1345-1354
  • Related Work: Full object view available from Victoria & Albert: http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O71015/cassone/
  • Current Location: London, Victoria & Albert Museum, n317-1894
  • Original Location:
  • Artistic Type (Category): Digital images; Painting
  • Artistic Type (Material/Technique): Canvas on poplar; Gesso; Paint; Tin
  • Donor:
  • Height/Width/Length(cm): //
  • Inscription:
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