islamic art-cylindrical box-carved ivory-inv.n.15443-Sicily 12th century-MIA - 08 07 09 058

the central medallion on the lid is decorated with prancing horses or unicorns. in the surrounding circle are four running animals perhaps dogs.the body is divided into foru medallions, those on the sides are blank, the others contain long necked birds. smaller birds and animals are placed outside the medallions. a foliated scroll on a hatched ground runs behind all the animals. most boxes of this kind come from Spain but the gilt brass mounts of this piece find their closest parallel in painted ivory caskets in several italian collections made in Sicily in the 12th century. Sicily was under Fatimid rule from 965 to 1072--cylindrical box-carved ivory-inv.n.15443-Sicily 12th century-MIA - 08 07 09 058