MARRIAGE COFFER, NO. 718—1884 (VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM).
MARRIAGE COFFER, NO. 247—1894 (VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM).
No. 247—1894, is a marriage coffer of walnut which has a symmetrically and formally planned scheme of raised decoration in gesso upon its front which suggests an earlier ornamental origin than the actual date of its production, perhaps, given as the end of the fourteenth century, as it resembles in character the textile patterns of the thirteenth century or earlier. The treatment of the gesso relief work is peculiar, and it appears as if an extremely softened, even and almost flattened effect had been aimed at, without any special emphasis on particular parts.
MARRIAGE COFFER, NO. 58—1867 (VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM).
The rich encrusted effect of another treatment of gesso decoration characteristic of later fifteenth century work is shown in the beautiful coffer, No. 58—1867, the painted shields of arms being in ornamental contrast. Here we have an instance of the use of painting to relieve gesso decoration, as distinct from the use of gesso work to enrich the effect in painting.
Gesso decoration was also finely and freely
used for small caskets and other objects and with delightful results, as the rich Museum collection again demonstrates.