Jewellery Box, ca. 1350
MediumWood, leather, velvet, gilded copper, enamel
(H x W x D)9 × 15 × 13 cm
Place of originLower Rhine region or the Netherlands
About the workWith most works from the Middle Ages, it is almost impossible to identify their artist or owner. In the case of this box, however, the coats of arms from the Lower Rhine on the lid give us a clue: the lion stands for Geldern, the carbuncle for Cleves, and the red pales for Mechelen. This points to Mechtild of Guelders as the owner, who married Count Johann II of Cleves in 1348 as her second marriage. Mechtild was a politically influential woman: when warlike disputes broke out over the duchies of Cleves and Guelders after her husband’s death, she used her diplomatic skills to become his political successor.
AccessionAcquisition 1929
Provenance[...]; bis spätestens 1382 vermutlich Mechthild von Cleve, Frau von Mecheln und letzter Erbin von Geldern (gest. 1382); [...]; bis spätestens 25.5.1929 Sigmaringer Sammlung, ehem. Sammlung Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen; 25.5.1929 angekauft
Inventory numberP 1929-145
