Design for a Cassone. Verso, Design for a Cabinet Door or Cassone Lid 1595 - 1605

This anonymous design for a cassone (a type of marriage chest) is a delicate and detailed drawing from the late 16th century. The design features two putti flanking an oval cartouche, intricately carved scrolling foliage, and a band of repeating ovals along the bottom. This design would have been for a cassone, an elaborate and highly decorated chest often given as a wedding present, demonstrating the importance of the occasion. The piece is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.