Chest: Scenes from the Childhood of Christ and Secular Scenes

Chest: 
Scenes from Christ's
Childhood and
Non-Religious Scenes
Rhineland, 15th century
Embossed and engraved leather
H. 0.260 ; W. 0.340 ; D. 0.250
Cl. 1391

Boiled-leather chests were among objects often exchanged by lovers on New Year's Day. They were used to store jewelry, books, documents, toiletries or coins. This chest shows both religious and chivalrous scenes, notably knights battling monstrous beasts.