Collection record · Objects & craft
Wooden Casket: Scenes from the Life of Christ
The collection record classifies this work as furniture and woodwork. It is dated c. 1050. Recorded culture or place: Anglo-Saxon, England, West Midlands?, Romanesque period, 11th century.
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A closer look at the details.
- Museum title
- Wooden Casket: Scenes from the Life of Christ
- Date
- c. 1050
- Culture / origin
- Anglo-Saxon, England, West Midlands?, Romanesque period, 11th century
- Materials and technique
- boxwood, copper-alloy, glass
- Dimensions
- Overall: 9 x 7.8 x 15.7 cm (3 9/16 x 3 1/16 x 6 3/16 in.)
- Artist / maker
- Not specified by the museum
- Museum
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Accession number
- 1953.362
FROM THE MUSEUM
In the museum’s words
The following description is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art’s original English record.
This casket is a rare, if not unique example of high-quality woodcarving from Anglo-Saxon England. Decorated with scenes from Christ’s life, it was likely made for an ecclesiastical purpose and may have housed relics. On one long side, the Christ child rests in the manger. Above, the Crucifixion is shown with mourners gathered below the cross and two angels flanking it on either side. On the other long side is the Ascension, God’s hand pulling Christ heavenward. Christ in Majesty appears above. The short sides show Christ’s baptism and his entry into Jerusalem.
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Text and image sources
The Cleveland Museum of Art · Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund · CC0
The summary is based on public collection data. Refer to the museum’s latest record for the title, date and attribution.
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