Filled with the bride’s dowry and processed through the streets on wedding day, cassoni (marriage chests) are important documents that give insight into the wealth and status of early modern women. From simple coffers to richly sculpted and painted chests, these objects also generated a group of renaissance painters, specialised in decorated and historiated furniture including birthing trays, beds, benches and wall panelling. This paper explores the history of the cassone as an object type, from its renaissance ceremonial and utilitarian function to its current-day status as a collectible art object. We’ll look at some famous renaissance cassoni owned by notable women, some examples held in Australian collections and reflect on what they can tell us about histories of taste.
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